A WOMAN is at the centre of an investigation into suspicions she murdered her husband in Pakistan.

The 23-year-old British Asian woman, who comes from Lancashire, was arrested with a 45-year-old man at Manchester Airport on New Year's Eve in 2006.

Both have been on bail ever since pending the outcome of a joint investigation between the Pakistani and Greater Manchester Police and were due to answer bail in Manchester today.

The pair are accused of stabbing a 21-year-old Pakistani to death in a hotel room in Rawalpindi on December 30.

The woman had an arranged marriage with the man, who is understood to be her cousin, in 2004.

Relatives of the murdered man are reported to have said that she returned home to Accrington soon after the honeymoon saying she would make arrangements for him to follow her to this country.

But, they say, the arrangements were never made because the young woman moved in and set up a business in Bolton with a local man instead.

A police spokeswoman said: "Two people from Lancashire arrested after a man was murdered in Pakistan were to answer bail today."

The spokeswoman added that the 21-year-old `died on 30 December 2006 after he was attacked in a hotel room in Rawalpindi'. She said: "The 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of murder at Manchester airport the following day."

Family members of the dead man have said they want the two sent back to Pakistan to be tried for murder.

Relatives of the woman arrested on suspicion of murder have said they are shocked by the allegations, describing her as an honest and `straightforward young woman'.

The man and woman were expected to answer bail at a Greater Manchester police station this morning.