A GANG of four opened fire on the Yousaf family with automatic weapons as they prayed at a grave.

Pakistani police said the murders of dad Mohammed, 51, wife Parviaz, 49, and daughter Tania, 23, of Howgill Close, Nelson, were 'disturbing acts of sheer madness'.

Nusrat Bibi, a Pakistani relative of the Yousaf family, was also gunned down.

There are reports in Pakistan that a brother of one of the men arrested was badly injured after being caught up in the gunfire.

Police said the killings were sparked by the breakdown of a 10-year arranged marriage involving Hasib, one of Mr and Mrs Yousaf's three sons and a cousin.

Divorce moves could have been the catalyst, officers said.

The Yousaf family had been warned not to go to Pakistan because of fears of violence, according to friends.

Two of the alleged gunmen have been arrested. They are from Hasib Yousaf's wife's family.

If charged and convicted they face the death penalty.

Police are hunting the other two gunmen.

The incident happened at 1pm, Pakistani time, (9am GMT), at a graveyard in Mararyian village in Rehmania, Gujarat, Pakistan.

The Yousaf family had been in the region for the unconnected wedding of another of their three sons.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday, before the funerals took place under heavy police guard, amid fears of further trouble.

Police said the Yousaf family had been praying at the grave of a relative who had died recently when the gunmen opened fire.

Gujarat Police Chief Tariq Abbas Kureshi said: “The killings were premeditated. The attackers were heavily armed with automatic weapons.

“The attack took place in broad daylight and stem from a dispute between two closely-related families. It related to a marriage breakdown.

“One of Mohammed Yousaf's sons was married and that marriage was breaking down. Attackers were one gunman and three of his brothers.

"It's an act of sheer madness. An isolated incident.

“Unfortunately family issues like this are quite common in Pakistan, but not usually as violent as what has happened here.

“Taking it to this level is very disturbing."

Police said the shooting may have been sparked by divorce moves.

Eyewitness Muhammed Anwar described how two groups of attackers had been waiting for the family - inside and outside the cemetery.

Mr Anwar, a relative of those killed, said the family had just arrived and started praying at a grave when they were attacked and shot at.

He said the family had been warned to stay away from the village, because of the tension surrounding the marital difficulties but nobody expected such a reaction.

Meanwhile, back in East Lancashire the widespread network of family and friends were struggling to come to terms with what had happened.

Seventy family members are heading out to Pakistan after raising enough money for the tickets.

Father-of-six Mr Yousaf, who was a plumber, his wife and daughter flew out to Pakistan six weeks ago.

Their middle son's wedding was three weeks ago. They were due home on Monday.

Mr and Mrs Yousaf have three sons and three daughters.

Tania leaves a husband and two children: Arien aged three and Harris, just nine months old.

Family friend and Nelson councillor Mohammed Iqbal said: “The general feeling in the community is still of shock and loss.

“They are turning their expectations to the Pakistan Government to make sure they are doing something to bring the perpetrators to justice quickly.

“Prayers for the family were said in every mosque during Friday prayers. People are still going round to see the family.

“It is not common for this to happen. If marriages break up people don’t talk to each other.I have never known anyone to do this.”

Another man named Mohammed Iqbal, who is the secretary of the family's mosque in Nelson, said: "This is the first time that I'm aware of in my life that when a problem occurred between the family they did this."

Eileen Ansar, who is married to Mr Yousaf's cousin Mohammed, said Mr Yousaf had treated his daughter-in-law well.

She said: "There have been tensions since the son and girl separated but the father treated her like his own daughter.

"He looked after the girl, kept her at his home.

"She is his sister's daughter, he treated her like his own daughter, he loved her and respected her as his own daughter."

She said most of the family went to Pakistan for Asad's wedding and Mr and Mrs Yousaf had stayed on for a few days.

"It is an absolute tragedy. You could not meet nicer people. They never did harm to anyone. It has destroyed the family."

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, who has been helping the family, said: “This is a huge tragedy that has affected the whole area.

“Three members of this community have been murdered and I am working with the Foreign Office to ensure that we are providing the family with every assistance as possible.

”I have spoken to the Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan in London, I believe that security steps are being taken which saw a strong police presence at the funerals.

”I know that the family were very well known and well loved and I will do everything that I can to see this situation resolved and to ensure that justice is done.”

He also read a statement from the family which said: “The family are devastated by what has happened and ask for people to respect their mourning whilst they come to terms with these tragic events.”