KARACHI: The main suspect involved in the killing of a newly married couple in the Malir area yesterday was arrested by police, according to a statement issued by the Korangi police spokesperson on Tuesday.

On Monday, a newly married couple was shot dead when assailants opened fire on their car near the RCD ground in Malir’s Saudabad. They were returning from the court, where the woman recorded her statement, maintaining that she married of her own free will. The couple had also submitted their Nikahnama in the court.

“On the strict directives of the Korangi senior superintendent of police (SSP), Saudabad police carried out an operation using modern technical methods and intelligence and arrested the main suspect involved in the murder of a husband and wife, yesterday,” said the police statement.

The spokesperson added that the arrested suspect was identified as Sajid, son of Aslam, who confessed during interrogation to opening fire on the couple.

A case related to the incident was also registered at Saudabad police station on the complaint of the deceased husband’s brother, the spokesperson said.

“Based on technical evidence, CCTV footage and intelligence information, police conducted raids at various locations and arrested the suspect from house number A-6 located in Ayub Goth, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi, within the limits of Sachal police station,” added the police spokesperson.

During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he had arranged the deceased woman’s engagement to another man and had received Rs350,000 in return.

“Raids are underway to arrest other suspects involved in the case, while further investigation is underway,” the spokesperson said.

The statement issued by the spokesperson did not disclose the exact motive behind the killing or the suspect’s relationship with the deceased couple.

In a statement issued after the incident, Korangi SSP Fida Hussain Janwari said that the assailants who opened fire on the couple had been identified as the deceased woman’s relatives.

SSP Janwari also said that the woman’s relatives had lodged a complaint regarding her disappearance at Sachal police station.