Family's killings raise alarm over state of law and order

The brutal murders in Lahore on Sunday of four members of a family, including a 13-month-old child, have created new fears over the state of law and order.

The case, in the words of lawyer Mohammed Bilal, indicates the extent to which "people have chosen to take matters into their own hands rather than turn to the police or the courts, and this signifies a growing frustration with the lack of efficiency of these institutions."

The family of Mohammed Aslam, including his infant grandson Mohammed Ahmed, his wife Rashida Begum and daughter Shireen, were murdered by hired killers allegedly sent by the child's mother, Shahzia.

According to accounts given by surviving family members, including the child's father, Nadeem, the dispute involved the custody of the infant. Nadeem has alleged his former wife was behind the killings.

According to the police, Nadeem and Shahzia had obtained a divorce soon after the birth of their son Ahmed in 2000. Ahmed was living with his father's family, but Shahzia had recently sought custody.

Police are investigating the accusations that Shahzia and her Karachi-based family hired assassins to carry out the killings after Nadeem refused to hand over the child.

At present, no other theories to account for the deaths have been put forward – though the question of why the child was also killed remains open. Police believe the assassins may have "made a mistake" when they also murdered the infant.

Residents in the Iqbal Town area point out that the murders reflect a further breakdown of law and order. No arrests have been made so far.

Rumours spread initially that the killings were the acts of terrorists had created more panic soon after the bodies were discovered.

It has also been pointed out that, with courts in most cases handing over custody of small children to their mothers, Shahzia would in all probability have gained possession of her child if she had approached a court.

The fact that despite this fact her family reportedly opted for murder has created a sense of alarm even among the police, who believe this suggests an increasing disregard for law or legal procedures, and indicates a further descent towards what one senior police officer describes as a "state of true anarchy".