THATTA: A couple was killed by unknown assailants near the shrine of Sheikh Alai in Makli town of Thatta district on Tuesday.

The victims were identified as Sawan and his wife Samina.

The Thatta DSP and Makli SHO visited the crime site soon after the incident to collect information and circumstantial evidence.

Speaking to local reporters, they said the incident seemed to be motivated by honour. They said that the weapon used in the crime was found at the site and taken into custody.

Sharing the information collected during the initial inquiry, they said the victims were residents of Balochistan and had contracted a freewill marriage some time ago. They had moved to Makli and had been living in a rented house.

Police were investigating the matter from different angles, they said.

Families manhandled

Members of the Nizamani community living in the Jati area of Thatta district on Tuesday claimed that a group of unknown armed assailants subjected their men, women and children to physical assault and took away their assets worth around Rs7m.

One of them, Habib Nizamani, told local reporters that the group, backed by Thatta’s most influential political figure, also fired shots on his car and manhandled him.

The armed men targeted the residential area near Nizamani’s Farm in Deh Jekri, residents of the area said. The armed men allegedly stormed their way into Nizamanis’ guest room (autaq) and beat up men, women and children before forcing them to vacate the place.

Habib Nizamani claimed that the political figure had been subjecting him to threats for long.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2025