IT is the largest multiple murder investigation Huddersfield police have ever carried out.
But one man has still not been brought to justice for his alleged part in a fire which tragically killed eight members of the Chisti family.
Today, nine years after the devastating fire, police are appealing for someone within the community to finally help them find fugitive Shahid Mohammed.
The 28-year-old had been arrested and bailed in connection with the fatal fire, which happened just before 2am, May 12 2002 at Osborne Road in Birkby.
But he has been on the run since 2007.
Detective Superintendent Sukhbir Singh, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “ I believe that someone in the local community is holding onto information that could help us find him.”
It was a tragedy which caused the deaths of Muhammad Ateeq-ur-Rehman, 18, his sister Nefessa Aziz, 35, and her daughters Tayyaba Batool, 13 and Rabia Batool, 10.
Five-year-old Ateeqa Nawaz, two-year-old Aneesa Nawaz and six-month-old Najeeba Nawaz also died in the fire.
One week later, on Sunday, May 19, Zaib-un-Nisa, 54 died in hospital.
Just three of the 11 occupants of the Birkby house escaped with their lives.
The investigation that followed became the largest multiple murder investigation West Yorkshire Police had taken on in nearly 30 years.
And in July, 2003, three Huddersfield men – Shakiel Shazad, Shaied Iqbal and Nasar Hussain were convicted.
Iqbal, of Thornton Lodge, was convicted for the murder of the eight members of the Chisti and jailed for at least 22 years.
Shahiel Shazad and Nazar Hussain, both of Crosland Moor, were convicted of eight counts of manslaughter and jailed for life.
In 2009 Hussain failed in his High Court bid to overturn his conviction, with the judge saying at the time: “The four arrived together. They left together.”
But one of the four has avoided justice.
Shahid Mohammed, then aged 20, had been arrested and released on bail and evidence given during the trial at Leeds Crown Court revealed that he was a key figure in the arson attack.
But he went on the run. Police believe he fled to Pakistan to avoid justice, but may have returned to the UK.
Now, as the surviving members of the Chisti family remember their loved ones on the ninth anniversary of the tragedy, police are renewing their plea to find Mohammed.
Det Supt Singh added: “For nine years the Chisti family have had to live with the fact that not every person responsible for what happened in May 2002 has been brought to justice.
“This fact is not something that we are prepared to ignore and we are as determined as ever to trace Shahid Mohammed and are again appealing for people with information on his whereabouts to come forward.
“While he could be in Pakistan and was known to have strong links to people in London, Birmingham and Leicester, I believe that someone in the local community is holding onto information that could help us find him.
“No matter how small the information may be that person could hold the key to us finding Shahid Mohammed and helping give the Chisti family closure.”
Anyone who could further assist this investigation should call Huddersfield Police on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
