GUJRAT: Police have arrested a man accused of killing his 24-year-old younger brother over a family property dispute and later attending his funeral while pretending to be grief-stricken, according to police officials.
The case involves Muhammad Sufyan, who was allegedly murdered by his elder brother, Muhammad Bilal, in a deserted area along Darikri Road on October 17.
According to Gujrat District Police Officer Faisal Shehzad and Daulat Nagar Station House Officer Ehsan Latif, Sufyan received a WhatsApp call from Bilal, who allegedly invited him to Gujrat city under the pretext of giving him a surprise.
The two brothers met, had a meal together at a restaurant and later left on a motorcycle.
Police said Bilal stopped the motorcycle in an isolated area, claiming he needed to relieve himself. He allegedly then attacked Sufyan with a knife, slit his throat and left his body by the roadside.
To make the incident appear to be a robbery, the suspect allegedly took the victim’s mobile phone and motorcycle before fleeing.
Suspect Allegedly Pretended to Be Unaware of the Killing
After the incident, Bilal reportedly fled to Lahore and contacted his family, pretending to know nothing about his brother’s murder.
Police said he instructed family members not to bury Sufyan until he returned from abroad, despite allegedly already being in Pakistan.
On the morning of October 18, Bilal arrived in the village and reportedly wept and expressed grief in front of relatives, apparently attempting to avoid suspicion.
CCTV Footage, Fingerprints Help Police Trace Suspect
During the investigation, Daulat Nagar police examined CCTV footage from Safe City cameras and other locations.
The footage reportedly showed Sufyan waiting for Bilal outside Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Hospital in Gujrat. The brothers were then seen having a meal at a restaurant before leaving together on a motorcycle.
Police said subsequent footage showed Bilal riding the motorcycle alone on the return journey.
Investigators also matched fingerprints recovered from the knife allegedly used in the crime with those of the suspect, according to police.
Four-Marla House Dispute Allegedly Behind Killing
According to the brothers’ father, Khalid Mahmood, the two had a dispute over inheritance involving a four-marla house.
The father said he had given Bilal 18 marlas of agricultural land outside the village and excluded him from a share in the house. However, Bilal allegedly believed Sufyan was responsible for depriving him of his rightful share.
Police said Bilal confessed to the crime during interrogation.
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A court subsequently remanded the suspect into police custody for three days for further investigation.
The father said the incident had devastated the family.
