Zahra Qadeer: A Horrific Murder by In-Laws in Daska, Sialkot

On the morning of November 10, Zahra Qadeer’s phone rang incessantly, but no one answered. For her family, this was alarming. Zahra, a devoted daughter and wife, rarely missed calls, especially from her loved ones.

Having recently returned to her in-laws’ home after a visit to her father following her trip from Saudi Arabia, Zahra Qadeer had only been there for three days. When both her father and her husband, who lived in Saudi Arabia, were unable to contact her, their concern grew.

Zahra Qadir, who was nine months pregnant and the mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old son, maintained a routine of calling her father and husband several times a day. This sudden silence was deeply unsettling. Neither her father nor her husband could have imagined the tragedy that had occurred at the hands of Zahra’s in-laws.

The Shocking Discovery of the murder in Daska

Daska Police investigations revealed a gruesome crime. Zahra Qadeer was murdered by her mother-in-law (who was also her maternal aunt) and her sisters-in-law (her cousins), with help from other relatives. After killing her, they dismembered her body, packed it in sacks, and disposed of it in a nearby drain.

At the time of her murder, Zahra was not only a devoted mother but also nine months pregnant, on the verge of welcoming a new life into the world.

How the Crime in Daska Came to Light?

Shabbir Ahmed, Zahra’s father and an Assistant Sub-Inspector in Punjab Police, grew suspicious when her calls went unanswered.

He decided to visit her in-laws’ home in Daska to check on her. Upon arrival, Zahra’s mother-in-law claimed that she had left the house earlier that morning.

The explanation didn’t sit right with Shabbir. “When I called out Zahra’s name repeatedly, her sister-in-law told me she had run away, possibly with jewelry and money.” However, the scene in the house raised his suspicions further. Zahra’s son was still there, and the house had been thoroughly cleaned, with freshly washed floors.

Fearing the worst, Shabbir contacted his elder brother and alerted the local police. He also revealed that Zahra had previously faced violence at the hands of her in-laws.

Confession of the Horrible murder in Daska and Evidence

Under police interrogation, Zahra’s mother-in-law and sisters-in-law confessed to the crime. They admitted to suffocating her and later dismembering her body using a cleaver and knife. These tools were subsequently recovered by the authorities.

The Heinous Details of Daska murder

Investigators discovered that the murder was meticulously planned. Zahra was asleep when her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law attacked.

One held her legs, another restrained her arms, and others suffocated her by covering her face with a blanket.

Postmortem reports confirmed suffocation as the cause of death. After killing her, they dismembered her body and scattered the parts in sacks and plastic bags across different areas in the drain to obscure the crime.

Searching for Zahra’s Remains

Following the confession, police, rescue teams, and locals launched an extensive search operation. Initially, two sacks containing parts of Zahra’s body were recovered.

Later, plastic bags containing her severed head and arms were found. Her torso had been divided into two parts and packed separately.

Motive for the Daska Murder

Zahra had married her cousin Qadeer a few years ago. The couple shared a loving bond, but this was a source of resentment for Zahra’s in-laws. Qadeer, the only brother among six sisters, worked in Saudi Arabia and often prioritized his wife and child.

Police revealed that Zahra’s mother-in-law accused her of “controlling” Qadeer and believed she had bewitched him.

With Zahra pregnant again, her mother-in-law feared that her son would become even more devoted to his wife. This insecurity escalated into a murderous rage.

A Father’s Agony

Shabbir Ahmed, heartbroken by his daughter Zehra Qadeer’s brutal murder, vowed to seek justice. “I will never forgive the culprits. They will face the consequences of their actions. But the void left by my daughter’s loss is unbearable,” he said.

Zahra’s remains were laid to rest in a somber funeral, leaving her family shattered and her young son to grow up without his mother. This tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked familial conflicts.