In a startling development from Bahawalnagar, Liaqat Ali, a local gunman whose whereabouts remained an unsettling mystery, has been discovered dead in the courtyard of his own house. As per the initial investigations, the deceased’s life song was silenced by his own stepson. Reports suggest that a long-standing land feud has probably been the motive behind the killing. 

Investigators say that the stepson, with full support of his mother and two co-conspirators, strangled Liaqat Ali to death. Later, in order to hide their crime, they buried his lifeless body in the very place he once called home. Two months after Liaqat’s disappearance, an FIR was registered at B Division Police station on the complaint of the victim’s brother, Nasir Mehmood. 

The investigation yielded little progress until recently, when the police involved Liaqat’s stepson and wife in the investigation on the request of his brother. During interrogation, both Liaqat’s wife and stepson confessed to the crime, revealing that they have buried his body within the house. The police immediately began excavation in the premises following the confession, and discovered Liaqat’s decomposed remains.

Forensic teams arrived shortly to gather critical evidence. The complainant and brother of the deceased, Nasir Mehmood, while condemning the incident, stated “My brother was murdered in cold blood by his own family, his own wife and his stepson conspired to silence him forever.” The case has drawn criticism of the police concerning their efficiency, given that even after a FIR was registered, the case remained unsolved for several months.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)