Teen girl allegedly killed for 'honour' by uncle, cousin in K-P's Lower Dir

A 19-year-old girl was allegedly shot dead by her uncle and cousin in the Lower Dir district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa because she was spotted talking to a neighbor outside her house, according to a police official Wednesday.

The murder occurred on June 26 in the hilly village of Kharkai in the jurisdiction of Khar Police Station.

She was the only child of her parents. Her father had left for foreign countries to earn his livelihood, and her mother died after giving birth last year. After her mother’s demise, she used to stay with her uncle.

As per the police officials, she was allegedly killed in the name of "honour".

According to the Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Rashid Khan, who is conducting the inquiry in the matter, an FIR has been registered in the case.

"The deceased was killed through Kalashnikov fire and spent bullet shells have been found from the spot of crime," Khan said.

According to the investigating officer, two suspects - father and son, both being uncle and cousin of the deceased, have been nominated in the case. One of the suspects is in police custody, while efforts are underway to capture the second one.

Lower Dir District Police Officer (DPO) Captain (retired) Bilal Furqan told that a police team, including female officers, was dispatched to the area immediately after the incident. He said the victim's body was sent for a post-mortem examination.

He said the FIR was registered on behalf of the state through the station house officer under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 311 relating to so-called honour killings.