What Happened: A British woman who moved to Pakistan around two months ago was found shot, and found dead at her home in Lahore.
Sad news of a young British-Pakistani woman murdered in Lahore yesterday… initial reports suggest Myra Zulfiqar was shot dead in her home. Her uncle has told police she was being threatened by two men who wanted to marry her… more details emerging still though @uszahid
— Secunder Kermani (@SecKermani) May 4, 2021
Mayra Zulfiqar reportedly moved to Lahore 2 months prior after completing her studies at Middlesex University. She had skipped the trip back to the UK to avoid the quarantine fee, according to the DailyMail. She was living in a rented house with her friends. She was found dead on the morning of the incident in her room after being shot reportedly by unidentified suspects.
Background: 26 year old Mayra had been in contact with two friends throughout her stay in Lahore. A few weeks ago, Mayra contacted her relative Muhammad Nazeer and told him that she was being threatened by two friends Zahir Jadoon and Saad Ammer Butt. According to her complaints, Saad had been forcing her to marry him, while Zahir also wished the same. Mayra was being threatened by both the men after rejecting their proposals.
Nazeer said he was intending to talk to both of the men, however before he could do that, Mayra had been shot on Monday morning. He believes that Saad and Zahir along with their accomplices have carried out this crime.
Outrage: There has been an outrage and debate on how women aren’t safe in this country even if they are from British origins. Aurat March made a statement.
A woman has been shot dead because two men were claiming their right to marry her. Pakistani women are killed because their body, their lives belongs to everyone but themselves. We are killed because men want to claim us, own us. This doesn’t hurt our culture? #justiceformayra
— Aurat Azadi March Islamabad (@AuratAzadiMarch) May 5, 2021
Arrests: According to police, two arrests have been made on Wednesday morning, however no names of those arrested have been released. Mayra’s housemate has also been taken into custody as the investigation unfolds.
#Pakistan police say two arrested in connection with #British woman’s killing in Lahore https://t.co/rT4gl7weN2
— Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) May 5, 2021
Pakistan is working directly with the Foreign Ministry to solve the case.