Sher Ahmad Haidar
GHAZNI CITY: A man killed his 17 family members and then himself in Andar district of southern Ghazni province late Saturday evening, officials said on Sunday.
The man identified as Ahmadullah shot his wife, his children, wife and children of his brother before turning the gun on himself at the family's home in Ghuli village of the district, said district chief Yousuf Siraji.
Siraji said the reason behind the suicide and murders is said be a family dispute that emerged in the family last week.
Ahmadullah's two children and mother survived in the incident.
Police reached the scene this morning and are investigating the case, said the district chief, who added the mother gave details to the police.
Ahmadullah was son of a religious scholar Maulvi Abdul Hakim. Hakim who had a homeopathic medicine store in Ghazni city was killed two years ago by Taliban on the charges of spying for the government.
District police chief Col. Nabi Patang who visited the family's house said that Ahmadullah became mentally sick after a dispute within the family emerged.
He quoted the neighbours and other family members as saying Ahmadulah after shooting dead his family members committed suicide by shooting himself with the same gun.