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Brit murdered in Pakistan ‘ignored by cops’ despite marriage warnings
THE family of the British law graduate murdered in Pakistan have claimed that she was “ignored three times by cops,” in the lead up to her death.
Mayra Zulfiqar, 26, was reportedly shot and strangled by suspects who broke into her apartment in Lahore on Monday.
The British Law graduate had been renting an apartment with a friend in the area for two months before she was discovered dead next to her phone earlier this week.
Now it has emerged that Mayra had already made three complaints to local police about being harassed in the lead up to her death, her family claim.
She had allegedly made the request specifically against Saad Ameer Butt who, according to the Independent Udru, had made her fear for her life with 'dire consequences' if she didn’t marry him.
Another complaint involved pressure from one of the friends of the victim who was trying to coerce her into such arrangement.
Mr Ameer Butt is one of two men who have already been arrested, with a manhunt underway for another two more suspects.
A family source told the Daily Mail: “There were not two men who were after Mayra's hand, that's just not true.
“It was one man who was harassing her, and we don't know why. Perhaps it was because she's from the UK and is a very beautiful girl. It might have been a status thing for him.'
Saad Ameer Butt had reportedly been harassing her for some time, despite the fact the Mayra was already engaged to a man from Islamabad, whom she met soon after arriving in the country.
She had moved to Pakistan just two months ago from the UK, where she was a law student at Middlesex University.
However, having initially travelled with her mother Tabasaam to attend a cousin's wedding there, she had reportedly decided to stay in the country after it was placed on the coronavirus red list.
When the incident happened on Monday, neighbours reported hearing screaming and at least two-gun shots before police arrived to find Mayra's body in an upstairs bedroom, which had also been trashed.
The family source added: “A local gangster who is closely connected to the police in Lahore took a shine to her but despite reporting him for harassment, they did nothing.
“The police are very corrupt over there and don't take crimes against women seriously.”
Her mother and father, who live in Feltham, London, flew to Pakistan on Tuesday morning just hours after finding out about their daughter’s death.
She was reportedly buried in a funeral service in Lahore this morning in accordance with Islamic tradition.
A close friend has said that the whole family have struggled to come to terms with the horrific news, with her mother especially said to “not be doing well,” according to Sky News.
Ziaur Rehman, who runs a market stall in Feltham, said: "Her father called me on Monday and asked me to come to his house.
"He was crying, I sensed there was something wrong, then I went there and the news was shocking.
"Her mother she is really struggling now, she is not well at all."
Mr Rehman had formed such a close friendship with Ms Zulfiquar's family that she even helped babysit his three young children.
He said: "She was very happy with my kids and would play with them, she was like their big sister.
"She was very friendly and very kind."
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