Dad, Daughters Death Mystery Shocks Dubai

A high-flying company director allegedly ends his life after killing his two children. The eldest girl, seven, is found dead in a bathroom and the younger one, barely three, reportedly wrapped in a blanket in her bed.

Floating in a pool not far from the Al Waha Community villa was the man’s body.

What provoked Pakistani Khurram Iqbal, 39, to take this extreme step remains a mystery. Until tragedy struck on December 1, the Iqbals appeared to be a happy family. Iqbal had scaled great heights with three promotions in eight years while his wife led an active social life in Dubai’s elite circles.

Even on the fateful night she was attending Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s concert at the Dubai Cricket Stadium.

Those who knew the family are shocked beyond belief.

“I am numbed. I have no words to describe how I feel,” said a friend.

Similar sentiments prevail at Iqbal’s workplace. “He was one of the best managers I have worked under, always calm and composed. The best thing I liked about him was that despite his success he remained self-effacing and grounded. I remember the friendly banters we exchanged during India-Pakistan cricket matches,” said Ahamed Shaheen, 36, from India.

The company’s HR director Preeti Khanna said Iqbal routinely exceeded work expectations. He began as operations manager in August 2006 but was on the board of directors when he died.

“He was a pleasing personality and an astute operations man,” she said. Born and raised in Dubai, Iqbal earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of London. He managed the multinational company’s core operations and oversaw a team of account managers. He was also responsible for special projects and had a decade of experience in the outsourced call centre industry.