KARACHI: A young woman, who recently left her home in the Pirabad area to marry a man on her own free will, was shot dead allegedly by her father in the name of so-called ‘honour’ at the entrance of the City Courts where she was brought by police to record her statement before a judicial magistrate on Monday.

City SSP Shabbir Ahmed Sethar told Dawn that Head Constable Imran Zaman, who was guarding victim Hajira, 19, and passer-by Wajid Kaleem, 20, were also wounded in the attack.

He said that the suspect, identified as victim’s father Ameer Jan Mehsud, was taken into custody and the weapon used in the offence was also recovered from him.

The dead and wounded were shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi.

Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said the victim, Hajira, was shot thrice in the chest and abdomen.

The SSP said that policewomen were taking Hajira to a court and when they reached at Gate No. 4 of the City Courts the lone suspect, who was apparently chasing them, opened indiscriminate fire and the bullets hit his daughter, a policeman and a citizen.

“The victim girl had married with a man, said to be a doctor, and her father killed her for so-called honour,” the SSP said, adding that the man was arrested and a case terrorism charges was being registered against him.

Constable Khyber Zaman, who was posted at the Gate No.4, had been suspended over negligence.

Pirabad SHO Mukhtiar Ahmed Panhwar told Dawn that Hajira had left her residence around 10 days ago. Her father lodged a kidnapping case and the police picked up her purported husband Anis Rehman and recovered the teenage girl.

During the initial probe, she revealed that she had married Mr Rehman. However, he was produced before a court on Sunday and the judge sent him to prison on judicial remand, the SHO said.

The SHO said that the injured policeman belonged to the investigation branch of the Pirabad police station and his condition was out of danger.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2023