A young couple who had recently married was shot dead in a targeted attack near Saudabad RCD Ground in Karachi’s Malir on Monday, when armed assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on their moving car, killing both on the spot.

Police said the victims, identified as 20-year-old Nadia and 26-year-old Najeebullah, were sitting in the back seat of a rented vehicle en route to Hyderabad after appearing in court proceedings related to a kidnapping case filed by the woman’s father.

CCTV footage of the incident also surfaced, showing a motorcyclist approaching the vehicle and firing multiple shots at close range, hitting both victims in the head before fleeing the scene.

Following the incident, Saudabad police reached the site along with Crime Scene Unit teams and collected evidence. The bodies were taken to Jinnah Hospital via Chhipa Ambulance.

According to a preliminary police report, the couple had recently married of their own choice and had appeared before a Malir court to record their statements under Section 164 in connection with an earlier kidnapping case lodged at Sachal Police Station.

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Police said the woman’s father had earlier registered a case alleging her abduction under relevant sections of the law, after she went missing from home in May. Investigators said initial findings suggested ongoing family tensions linked to the marriage.

Officials further stated that a man named Javed Ali, reportedly a relative of the deceased groom, was also present in the car and fled the scene after the firing. The driver of the rented vehicle was also identified and was being questioned.

Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police Fida Hussain Janwari said the victim belonged to Dadu district and had recently married against family wishes, which had led to a continuing dispute between the families.

He said police had obtained CCTV footage and other evidence and were working to identify and arrest the shooters as well as those who may have facilitated the attack.

Further investigation is underway, while the bodies were taken to the Edhi cold storage facility after legal formalities.