BAHAWALPUR/LAHORE: A bride was allegedly murdered by her cousin over a marriage dispute in Lodhran district on Thursday, police said, adding that the suspect later attempted to take his own life and was in a critical condition.

Police said that suspect Muddassir Mahboob (30) wanted to marry his cousin, Sidra, but her family declined his proposal and arranged her marriage elsewhere. The wedding was scheduled for Thursday.

Police said the victim had gone to a beauty parlour in the city for pre-wedding preparations when the suspect allegedly entered the premises and attacked her with a knife and slit her throat. She died on the spot.

The attacker then attempted suicide by trying to slit his own throat and fell unconscious.

Rescue and police teams shifted the body to the mortuary for post-mortem examination, while the injured suspect was first taken to the Lodhran DHQ Hospital and was later referred to the Bahawal Victoria Hospital due to his critical condition.

Police said an investigation into the incident was underway.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2026