TAXILA: An estranged man shot dead his father- and mother-in-law and two minor children in Pind Mehri village in Hassanabdal before committing suicide on Thursday.

Sources in the Hassanabdal police said that Nasir, a resident of Haripur, had contracted marriage with his cousin in Pind Mehri village in the outskirts of Hassanabdal six years ago. The couple developed differences over domestic issues and the woman started living with her parents a couple of months ago, and all reconciliation efforts between two families remained unsuccessful.

On Thursday, the man entered his in-laws house and opened fire on members of the family killing his father-in-law Nisar, 60, mother-in-law Naseem Akhter, 55, his five-year-old son Falak and two-year-old daughter Kainat.

After the shooting, the man reportedly killed himself on the spot.

His wife fortunately remained unhurt as she succeeded to flee from the scene.

Upon receiving information, local police rushed to the area, secured the scene and began investigations.

All the five bodies were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Hassanabdal for postmortem examination.

Police officials said an investigation was underway to determine the exact sequence of events and circumstances leading to the incident.

A team led by SP investigation Attock Zainab Ayub along with Subdivisional Police Officer Yasir Matloob Kiyani collected evidence.

A pall of gloom spread in the area when the bodies reached their home for burial. Moving scenes were also seen on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2026