THE sister of Blackburn murder victim Nazia Ahmed may have been injured trying to protect her and still hasn't been told she is dead.

Shazia Ahmed, 20, underwent surgery for "nasty" injuries to her hand and side yesterday following the fatal knife attack at their Blackburn home.

But her family have been told by doctors not to tell her that Nazia, 23, did not survive the incident, at their home in Shear Bank Road on Saturday.

Today police revealed that Nazia's estranged husband Zameer, who is being hunted by police in connection with the murder, joined in a "happy family event" just hours before allegedly stabbing his wife to death.

The 26-year-old was among relatives who gathered at the Blackburn house where only hours later accountancy graduate Nazia was attacked.

The 30-strong gathering was to say farewell to her brother, Waseem, who was due to fly to Pakistan to visit his grandparents that afternoon.

The attack, which police may have been prompted by a failed reunion between the couple, took place after Waseem was taken to Manchester Airport.

He immediately made arrangements to return home after landing in Gujurat.

Det Supt Mick Gradwell said: "Shazia underwent surgery yesterday and we are still waiting to speak to her.

"But some of her injuries are consistent with her defending either herself or her sister.

"Her family have taken medical advice and not told her about her sister's death at this stage, although that is something they may well be able to do within the next day or so."

It has also been revealed Nazia had passed accountancy exams in the last few weeks.

Her employer said she had a "bright future ahead of her".

Police have urged Zameer to turn himself in, condemning the murder as a "violent and cowardly attack on a defenceless young woman."

They said the family, including Zameer, had gathered at 29 Shear Bank Road at about 10am on Saturday.

The party, including Zameer, left between noon and 12.30pm but an hour later a male family friend received an anguished phone call from the address and, hearing screams, called the police.

The attack is believed to have happened shortly after Zameer returned to the house at about 1.30pm.

Three family members and two next door neighbours raced to the house and within minutes police and paramedics were on the scene.

The assailant was not seen but an eight-inch kitchen knife was recovered.

Det Supt Gradwell said Nazia was "conscious and was alive and breathing" when crews arrived.

She died at about 3pm in Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Detectives are investigating whether the attack came after attempts by Zameer to rekindle the relationship.

Dept Supt Gradwell said: "The only thing that we can pick up at the moment is to do with a possible reconciliation issue but until we have continued to interview witnesses we haven't got a firm motive."

He said detectives were still trying to establish where the knife came from, including the possibility it was from the family-owned Shahi Qila restaurant, where Zameer worked as a chef.

The suspect lived in two properties owned by the family, including a grand house adjoining the restaurant.

The couple had an arranged marriage in 2002 and separated about 18 months later.

Dept Supt Gradwell said: "The family are devastated. It is just overwhelming grief, particularly considering the circumstances.

"They have had a happy family gathering to see off one of their sons and now we have a situation where that family will never be together again as a whole."

He said the marriage "just doesn't appear to have worked" but there was no history of domestic violence.

He said: "We have got no record he has previous convictions and we are still trying to build up a picture of him.

"I'd urge Zameer to come forward. The parents of Nazia are distraught and the only thing we can do now is tell them what's happened and Zameer is part of that and I would just urge him to do the right thing and contact us.

"Nazia had her whole life ahead of her and it has been brutally cut short for no apparent reason.

"It is a complete tragedy."