A fire in Drabshalla that claimed the lives of Nazia Begum, 10-year-old Amna Banoo, and 5-year-old Rizwan Ahmed has been confirmed as a premeditated murder.
Police revealed that Asma Begum, the co-wife of Nazia’s husband, Khursheed Ahmed, confessed to the crime, citing suspicions of black magic and domestic disputes as motives.
“We are heartbroken and cannot comprehend how such cruelty could occur within a family. It’s a nightmare for us,” a relative told Chenab Times.
The fire, initially reported as an accident, broke out on November 11. Investigators found evidence of foul play, leading to Asma’s confession.
She admitted to drugging Nazia with sedative-laced tea, spraying insecticide in the room where Nazia and her children were sleeping, and then setting the room on fire with kerosene and petrol.
Authorities confirmed that Khursheed Ahmed and his brother Imtiaz were not involved in the crime.
The revelation has shocked the local community, with one neighbor calling it “unthinkable” and another describing it as “a nightmare for the village.”
Police have assured a thorough investigation, stating that justice will be served for the victims. This tragedy highlights the devastating consequences of unresolved domestic conflicts and superstitions.