DADU: The parents and a sister of the 19-year-old girl, Tania Khaskheli, who was murdered in their house on Saturday evening, have demanded arrest of the killers saying that police were not laying hands on them due to their political clout.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bhan Syedabad Press Club on Sunday, Ghulam Qadir Khaskheli, his wife, Khursheed Begum, and their daughter, Eman Khaskheli, alleged that an influential wadera (feudal lord) of Jhangara Bajara town, Khan Noohani, along with his armed associates, barged into their house and shot dead Tania on Saturday evening.

The girl’s parents claimed that Khan had been pressing them to marry Tania to him but they had turned down the proposal. They alleged that Khan had twice tried to kidnap her in the recent past. On Saturday evening, they claimed, Khan, along with Maula Bukhsh and an unknown person, barged into their house and terrified them with their weapons. They alleged that the armed men tried to take away the girl but on strong resistance put up by the family, Khan got furious and shot dead Tania.

The family said that an FIR against Khan Noohani, Maula Bukhsh and the unknown person was lodged at the Jhangara Bajara police station but the suspects were threatening them with dire consequences if the case was not withdrawn. They said police were not arresting the suspects due to their political influence.

The family appealed to the IGP and the higher authorities for protection and justice, and demanded immediate arrest of the killers.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2017