Samia Shahid (pictured), 28, was raped and strangled in an alleged honour killing
The father of a British beauty therapist who was raped and strangled in an alleged honour killing suffered a fatal heart attack after complications with gastric band surgery, a family friend has revealed.
Muhammad Shahid’s health had drastically deteriorated since the brutal death of his daughter Samia Shahid in Pakistan in July 2016 and his arrest over her murder.
The former chip shop owner, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, passed away on Sunday just two days before a harrowing BBC documentary about beauty therapist Samia’s death was due to be screened.
Neighbours believe the strain of the police investigation, the loss of his daughter, weight related problems and the BBC set to unmask him as a wicked father through the eyes of her second husband finally took its toll.
A woman who works at Samia’s uncle’s florists – opposite the family’s large detached home in the suburb of Manningham – told MailOnline: ‘Samia’s father died on Sunday from a heart attack in Pakistan where he had been staying following his release by police.
Ms Shahid and her second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam, who she married in 2014
A Pakistani police officer escorts father of Samia, Muhammad Shahid, right, and ex-husband Muhammad Shakeel
Samia’s father Muhammad (pictured) was arrested over his daughter’s brutal murder in July 2016, but was later released due to lack of evidence
‘We heard there were problems with a gastric band he had fitted to help control his weight and it impacted on his heart.Whatever people say about him, and there is no evidence against him, it is very sad.’
It is understood Samia’s grieving mother Imtiaz Bibi and sister Madiha Shahid flew to Lahore as soon as they heard of the death.
The pair are believed to be wanted for questioning by Pakistani detectives for ‘acting as accessories’ to Samia’s murder.
Their home, which is screened by a large black gate and wooden and brick walled fence, had all shutters closed and appeared to be empty.
The worker at Lister Park Florists, who declined to named, said: ‘The close family have gone out for the funeral. He will be laid to rest in Pakistan and his body will not be brought back here.’
Ms Shahid on her wedding day with first husband Mohammed Shakeel, who was later arrested over her murder
The bedroom in Pakistan where Ms Shahid was allegedly raped and strangled by the ex-husband
Ms Shahid’s final resting place is a grave near the family home in Pakistan
Samia’s uncle John, her mum’s brother, who closed his business ‘as a mark of respect’ on Sunday is believed to have accompanied them. The florist, which boasts ‘flowers for every occasion’, was back open today.
But other businesses on a parade, owned by the family, stayed shut. A hastily scribbled mis spelt note pinned to Spuddy’s Fisheries states: ‘We are closed today due to a family bereavement. Sorry for the inconvenience.’
A local man said Samia’s dad, nicknamed ‘Spuddy’ and in his late fifties, was known in the neighbourhood because he ran the chippie.
He said: ‘And we’ll all know what he and his poor daughter’s first husband are meant to have done to her. We heard he had died, maybe that’s karma!’
His girlfriend added: ‘We heard there was a problem in Pakistan with his gastric band which led to him having a heart attack.’
She recalled: ‘When he was living here he used to be really chubby, a size 18-20. He’s not very tall but must have weighed 15 stone and he had a gastric band fitted on the NHS.
Ms Shahid was a British beauty therapist
‘Then he went to Pakistan to visit a sick relative and Samia was lured over there and was murdered. It’s shocking. He was arrested and released but stayed on there.’
The owner of nearby Oak Lane Post Office and general store told MailOnline: ‘I saw Samia’s mother on Friday. She and her daughter are regular customers but they never talk about what happened and no one would ask them. They have refuted all allegations of any wrongdoing. If police officers wanted to find them they could.
‘The daughter works at the airport but I’m not sure what her job is.
‘I’ve not seen either of them since the death on Sunday but I would think they’ve gone to Pakistan to pay their respects. Any death us sad whatever the circumstances.’
The Home Office today refused to say if Samia’s mum and sister were subject of extradition proceedings. A spokesman said: ‘As a matter of long-standing policy, the Home Office neither confirm nor deny whether the UK has made or received an extradition request until an arrest has taken place.’
A spokesperson for the family’s home force West Yorkshire Police said: ‘The investigation is being led by the Pakistani police. We are not aware they have requested any help from our officers.’
Samia’s father was arrested overt her daughter murder along with her first husband but was later freed due to lack of evidence.
She had ‘dishonoured’ her family by divorcing Mohammed Shakeel, her cousin, after an arranged marriage. She then infuriated her relatives by getting wed for a second time after a secret divorce.
Prior to her death, Ms Shahid had been lured to Pakistan by frantic phone calls from family members on the pretense her father was dying.
At the time she had been enjoying a new life in Dubai with her second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam, who she married in 2014.
Her ex-spouse remains in jail on suspicion of her killing.
A documentary on Samia’s tragic death, Murdered For Love?, was due to air tonight but the BBC has postponed following her father’s death.
In its place BBC2 will screen a show about a comic’s battle with being shy – Rhod Gilbert: Stand Up To Shyness.
A BBC spokeswoman previously told MailOnline: ‘We have postponed the programme out of respect for the family. The decision was only made today after we heard of Samia’s father’s death.
‘Although neither he nor his immediate family were featured in our documentary we decided to postpone it. This is all very sudden.
Programmes are subject to change and as yet we have not rescheduled it.’
Samia’s widower, four of her closest friends from Bradford and Pakistani police officers have given interviews for the documentary.