KARACHI: The suspect allegedly involved in the murder of a woman and her three minor children in Sector 7-D of Surjani Town was shot dead by police during an “encounter” on Thursday night, officials said.

The suspect, identified as Muhammad Hamayoun Khan, had allegedly murdered Mehwish Danish and her three children — Mirhad, 8, Hasnain, 6, and Ashmeera, 2 — at their home on Sept 14.

Speaking at a press conference at his office earlier in the day, West Zone DIG Irfan Ali Baloch had said that the suspect was a close relative of the deceased woman. After the four murders, an FIR was registered, following which a special investigation team led by West SSP Tariq Illahi Mastoi had arrested Humayun, who is the husband of the victim’s sister-in-law.

During an initial probe, the suspect allegedly told investigators that he had gone to the victim’s home when her husband, Mohammed Danish, was not home. He said he attempted to rape her but as she resisted, he killed her with the help of an iron rod by striking her on the head. He also killed 2-year-old Ashmeera.

He further told the investigators that when he was leaving the home, he saw both the elder children, Mirhad and Hasnain, who were returning from their seminary classes.

Seeing that, he decided to kill them, too. He said he murdered them with the same iron rod and left the house. He said he had thrown the rod used in the murders in a drain.

Later in the night, a police spokesperson said in a statement that Hamayoun was taken into custody for the recovery of the iron rod. However, during the recovery operation, he allegedly snatched a police officer’s pistol and opened fire in an attempt to escape.

As a result, ASI Nauman Sheikh was wounded. In retaliatory firing by the police, Hamayoun was shot dead on the spot.

Police said the snatched police pistol and the iron rod allegedly used in the murders were recovered from the scene.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2026