RAWALPINDI, Feb 20: Three women were strangled in their house in Mughlabad on Wednesday night, the police said.

The triple murder came to light when Muharram Naheed, the husband of Mumtaz Bagum, (one of the deceased), returned home and found the doors locked, the police said.

The police said Mst Shazia with three other persons came to Muharram’s house on Wednesday night around 10pm and had a brawl with Mumtaz Bagum.

“First they strangled Mumtaz Bagum and then Shamaila. On hearing their screams, Inayat Bibi, the mother of Mumtaz Bagum, came down from upstairs, but she was also strangled by them with a piece of wire,” the investigating officer, said.

The police said Mst Shazia had been in jail on murder charges and developed friendly relations with Mst Shamaila during her imprisonment, the police said.

The investigating officer said: “Three of the accused named in the FIR have been arrested and they have confessed the crime, but the real motive is being investigated.”

He said the police raided the house of Shazia in Ashraf colony (Saddar Baruni) and arrested three persons —- Mohammad Amin, Shamaila Bibi and Mohammad Iqbal —— while they were about to escape.