FAISALABAD A police constable on Thursday gunned down nine people, including his wife, her mother, her two sisters, as many brothers and two other boys in Kaleem Shaheed Colony No 1.

Reports said Nasir Abbas, who later confessed to committing the crime, had been serving in the CID police since 2000.

He earlier told the police that some unidentified criminals had gunned down his wife Mehreen, mother-in-law Rehana Chaudhry (a stage actress), father-in-law Yousuf alias Billa, Naveed (nephew of Rehana), sisters-in-law Kinza and Wajiha, besides Tajamul and Muzamal (brothers of Mehreen), and an employee Shehzad.

He claimed when he came home early in the morning after doing his duty, he found all his in-laws, except Kinza, lying dead. Kinza, who was critically injured, was shifted to Allied Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

On being informed of the incident, City Police Officer Mohammad Tahir, SSP (operations) Kamran Yousuf, Jinnah Town TPO Hasan Khan and other officers reached the spot and started investigation.

The CPO told a press conference at his office that the accused contracted marriage with Mehreen two months ago but was not happy with Rehana's character and used to have quarrels with his in-laws.

Nasir told investigators that his wife had also relations with her stepfather, Yousuf.

The CPO said annoyed over the situation the accused killed his in-laws.

He said the bodies were shifted to the hospital for autopsy. He said two pistols had also been seized from the possession of the accused.

Mr Tahir said the policemen who resolved the case within five to six hours of the occurrence of the incident would be given prizes.

Razaabad police station SHO Yasir Jutt said a case had been registered on the complaint of Asghar Ali, brother of Rehana.