Sindh minister’s death ruled as suicide

Police said yesterday that initial investigations showed Sindh Planning and Development Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani had shot dead his wife and then killed himself with the same weapon.

Bijarani and his wife, Fariha Razak Haroon, were found dead on Thursday at their residence in the city’s Defence locality.

Police also said Bijarani’s domestic staff said, in their initial statements, that the husband and wife had been quarrelling about something for the last few days.

A press release by the deputy inspector-general of police, South Zone, said an initial forensic report had said all the bullet casings collected from the crime scene were fired from the same weapon.

“On February 1, 2018, at around 1430 hours, Darakhshan police received the information that the bodies of Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Minister of Development and Planning in the Government of Sindh, and his wife Fariha Razzaq Haroon were lying in the room at first floor of house No. 36, Khayabae-Janbaz, Phase-5, DHA, Karachi,” the statement said.

“On receipt of the information Station House Officer P.S. Darakhsan and DSP/ SDPO Darakhshan immediately rushed to the spot.”

Body on couch

Haroon’s body was found lying on the floor near the entrance of the living room located adjacent to their bedroom whereas the Bijarani’s body was in the same room on the couch.

Bijarani received one gunshot in the head, whereas Haroon received three bullets; one on the head and two in the abdomen, police said.

A recorder for CCTV cameras installed at the house has been seized for further examination, police said and forensic teams collected relevant evidence including blood samples.