LARKANA: A couple that had contracted a freewill marriage some eight years ago came under an armed attack that left the man and his young son dead. His wife and two other children were critically wounded.

The couple, along with their children, were riding a motorcycle when unknown occupants of a car opened fire on them near Bahadur Bhand village in the Sujawal Junejo area on Sunday, according to the Larkana police.

The deceased were identified as Sajjad Tunio, 35, and his young son, Master Rehman. The critically wounded victims, Mrs Rukhsana Tunio (originally belonging to the Brohi tribe), the couple’s other son, Iman Ali, and daughter, Umeedan, were provided emergency treatment at the Mirokhan Taluka Hospital and then referred to a major hospital in Larkana for advanced treatment.

According to initial inquiry conducted by the police, the couple had contracted a freewill marriage without the consent of the woman’s parents and other relatives.

Although they feared an attack on them under the custom of Karo-Kari (honour killing), the couple along with their children visited Mirokhan. On their way back home in Phulhari village, they were intercepted and attacked, the police said.

The bodies were handed over to the heirs after legal formalities performed at the Mirokhan Taluka Hospital.

Speaking to local reporters at the hospital, Sajjad’s brother Faheem Tunio stated that his brother had contracted a freewill marriage with Rukhsana Brohi, a resident of Ratodero, through a court, which was strongly opposed by the woman’s family. Faheem stated that on the insistence of Sajjad’s sisters, the couple travelled to Mirokhan so that their children could meet their maternal aunts. “On their way back home after the visit, armed men riding a car ambushed them killing Sajjad and his young son, Master Rehman, on the spot,” he said.

A case was registered at the Mirokhan police station and an investigation into the matter was started. A hunt for the killers was under way, the police said.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2026