Sindh minister Bijarani, wife found dead in suspected murder-suicide

• Police suspect  Sindh Planning and Development Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani pulled the trigger on himself after killing wife Fariha Razak
• Servants broke open door after hearing gunshots; Fariha was shot thrice while Bijarani had one bullet wound on his temple
• PPP government announces three days of mourning as politicians across the board express condolences over veteran leader’s death

KARACHI: A senior politician of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Sindh Planning and Development Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and his wife, former MPA and journalist Fariha Razaque, have been found dead at their residence in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase II Karachi on Thursday.

According to initial reports, the bodies found in the house’s bedroom bore bullet wounds. However, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in-charge Raja Umer Khitab said the bodies were recovered from the study room adjacent to the bedroom.

A medical board, headed by Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Dr Seemi Jamali confirmed that the couple was brought dead to the hospital. Dr Jamali said that Fariha, the wife, sustained three bullet wounds on her head, abdomen and leg while Bijarani a received single bullet on his head.

The post-mortem of the minister and his wife was completed late on Thursday evening and Bijarani’s body was shifted to an Imambargah.

According to the CTD, Bijrani was shot once and four bullet shells were found at the scene. The senior police official also confirmed the recovery of the weapon.

INITIAL PROBE:

CTD officer Raja Umer Khitab said Bijarani was shot once and four misfired bullets were found at the scene. He also confirmed that the weapon had been recovered and added that the bodies were recovered from the study room adjacent to the bedroom.

“We cannot give an opinion regarding the case yet. We have our forensic team and senior officers present on site,” Khitab added.

Media reports claimed that one of the misfired bullets was still stuck in the breech of the weapon and the weapon belonged to deceased minister Bijarani.

According to initial reports, the body of the provincial minister’s wife was found lying on the floor while Bijarani’s body was lying on the couch.

Sindh IG AD Khowaja, while visiting the premises, said the police have taken custody of CCTV camera recordings; however, he maintained that all the cameras were placed on the exterior of the premises.

Police guards posted outside the couple’s house told the investigators that they did not see anyone entering the home.

According to the CTD official, the guards said that they had heard the sound of quarrelling from inside the house followed by gunshots. However, police rule out any chances of murder as they suspect the PPP minister of killing himself after he shot his wife three times.

Moreover, according to the rumours making rounds at Bijrani’s house, the late minister was having a tiff with his wife over the ticket for the upcoming Senate elections for his son. Though, the information could not be confirmed from the family sources.

The staff also informed the police that Bijarani’s son was the first to enter the room after entering the residence from its back door.  However, the police took three members of the domestic staff, including a woman, into custody along with two police guards for investigation.

Bijarani was the planning and development minister Sindh and belonged to Kurrampur area of Kashmore District. The veteran politician has served several times as federal and provincial minister during the tenures of the PPP.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other PPP lawmakers and politicians have arrived at Bijarani House in Khayabane Janbaz.

Sindh Information Minister, Nasir Shah said that Bijarani despite his status as minister and head of his tribe did not prefer protocol and security. “Bijarani always led a very simple and low-profile life.”

The provincial information minister said that “those responsible for the murder will be caught and brought to justice”.

A forensic team reached the residence and collected evidence. Inquiries were also conducted over who was present at the house. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has asked for a police report on the deaths to be shared with him.

Condolences

The PPP is to mourn the minister and his wife for three-days as it announced to suspend all the political activities. The former president and party co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, also expressed his condolences.

PPP leader Assefa Bhutto Zardari said she was horrified by the tragic news.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi have also condoled the death of the Sindh minister and his wife.

Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza shocked by the incident, said: “This is a very sad incident. I could never have imagined this could happen. I do not know anything else except that he is not among us right now.”

She also termed it a “huge loss for the party”.

Sindh Minister for Information Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said: “This is a sad and terrible day, I still cannot believe such a thing has happened. We were together in the assembly just yesterday.”

Taking to Twitter to express her grief over the deaths, PPP MNA Nafisa Shah said: “Heartbreaking news has just been reported […] This is a big tragedy for the family and the PPP both. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, constituents and our PPP family.”

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also “deeply shocked” to learn the tragic news of the death of PPP veteran leader.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Arif Alvi also offered his condolences on the deaths. “Very sad to hear about my friends Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and Fariha Razzaq Haroon shot dead. May their souls rest in peace. Met him on Monday last & Fariha came over for lunch to my house on Saturday,” he said on Twitter.