Police reveal new details in Surjani killings

Police have alleged that a suspect arrested in connection with the deaths of a woman and her three children in Surjani Town first attempted to sexually assault the woman before attacking her when she resisted.

West Zone Deputy Inspector General Irfan Baloch said on Thursday that the suspect, identified as Humayun, allegedly remained inside the family’s home for nearly two hours on the day of the killings.

According to the police officer, Humayun entered the house at around 2pm and stayed there until approximately 4pm. The case emerged after the bodies of 34-year-old Mehwish and her three minor children were discovered at their residence in Sector 7-D.

Police said post-mortem examinations showed that all four victims had suffered multiple injuries to the head.

Baloch said Humayun was a resident of New Karachi and worked in the catering sector. He allegedly travelled to Surjani Town on a Qingqi and switched off his mobile phone before reaching the area.

The DIG alleged that the suspect tried to sexually assault Mehwish. When she resisted, he allegedly attacked her with an iron rod. Police believe the same weapon was subsequently used in the killings.

Baloch said the suspect allegedly discarded the iron rod in a drain at around 6pm while returning home. Police have yet to recover the suspected murder weapon and are continuing their search.

The officer also alleged that Humayun returned to the house after police reached the scene. Investigators believe he attempted to make the incident appear to be a robbery by taking children’s clothes from a cupboard and scattering them around a room.

Mehwish’s missing mobile phone has emerged as another key lead. Police suspect the phone was taken from the house after the killings and are examining how it disappeared.

Investigators have completed geo-fencing of the area and obtained call detail records to trace movements and communications around the time of the incident. CCTV recordings, fingerprints, blood samples and other forensic material are also being examined.

Police said forensic and chemical analysis reports were still awaited. Investigators are also seeking information linked to Mehwish’s SIM card to reconstruct communications before the incident.

The four victims were buried on Tuesday after the completion of legal and medical procedures.

An investigation team comprising eight members was formed after police initially suspected that someone familiar with the family could have been involved.