Gujranwala bride killed after walima; police hunt fleeing suspects

A newlywed woman was fatally shot inside a car in Gujranwala while returning home from her walima reception, according to police. Investigators allege that the principal suspect had previously sought to marry the victim and attacked her after his proposal was rejected.

The victim, identified as Saba Tufail of New Gulshan Colony, had married Sufyan on October 23. Their walima was held the following day at a banquet hall in Shalimar Town along GT Road, after which the couple began travelling home by car.

Police accounts state that two men riding a motorcycle intercepted the vehicle near Chungi No 10. One suspect, identified as Sarfraz, allegedly entered or approached the car and opened fire at close range, critically injuring Saba before fleeing with his accomplice.

Saba was transported to Gujranwala Teaching Hospital, where she died during treatment. Police and Punjab Forensic Science Agency personnel subsequently examined the scene and collected evidence, while doctors conducted an autopsy before releasing her body to the family.

Investigators are also examining closed-circuit television footage that reportedly shows two motorcycle riders waiting along the road before stopping the couple’s car. The recording is said to capture the assailants’ movements and faces, potentially providing evidence that could help authorities identify and trace them.

The Gujranwala Crime Control Department registered a case following a complaint submitted by the victim’s brother, Ijaz Ahmed. Three people were nominated: Sarfraz, his cousin Aroob and an unidentified alleged accomplice. The reported charges include provisions relating to murder, abetment and common intention under the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the preliminary account attributed to investigators, Saba and Aroob knew each other through their factory employment and regularly visited one another’s homes. Sarfraz allegedly met Saba through Aroob and later sent a marriage proposal to her family, which was declined. These claims remain allegations being examined during the investigation and have not yet been established by a court.

Police said the suspected attackers remained at large and that efforts were underway to arrest them. The investigation will need to establish each nominated person’s individual role, authenticate the available video evidence and determine whether the attack was planned with assistance from others.

The killing has turned a family celebration into a criminal investigation centred on violence against a woman over her choice of marriage. The immediate priority for authorities is to secure the suspects, preserve forensic and digital evidence, and ensure that responsibility is determined through a complete and transparent legal process.