MUSLIM leaders have appealed for a man suspected of murdering his estranged wife to turn himself in.

The Lancashire Council of Mosques appealed for Zameer Ahmed to contact police after he was named as their prime suspect in the murder of Nazia Ahmed.

And a spokesman for the mosque which Ahmed and his wife's family attend back the call and offered to help police.

Nazia, 23, a Blackburn College student and county council worker, was stabbed to death and her 20-year-old sister Shazia was left critically injured during an attack at their home in Shear Bank Road, Blackburn.

Ahmed, 26, who works at the Shahi Qila restuarant, also in Shear Bank Road, and who lives in the same street, has been missing since the killing, at 1.30pm on Saturday.

Detectives warned that although they had seized his passports he may still try to leave the country.

Police said it was evident the attacker would have had heavily blood stained clothes.

Today Salim Mulla, secretary of the council of mosques, said: "Zameer needs to listen to the requests of the police, the family, and the muslim community.

"It's only right that he should turn himself in. People are unsure about what's happened"

Ghulam Haji, secretary of the Randal Street Mosque, said: "It's very very sad. They are a very good family, they are well known and well liked.

"Nobody at the mosque expected anything like this and we are willing to help any way we can. He should give himself up."

Zameer came to England from Pakistan in 2002 for his arranged marriage to Nazia, but they separated about 18 months later. He lived in two properties owned by the family, including a house adjoining the restaurant.

He is 5ft10ins, slim to medium build with a short beard with thick, swept back black hair. He was wearing brown and green coloured jeans, a stone coloured short casual jacket and maroon shirt at the time of the attack.

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn Police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Officers are available to speak to callers in Punjabi and Urdu.