Judge Rules Death Was Murder, Not Suicide
MULTAN: An additional district and sessions judge has sentenced the husband of 20-year-old Sania Zehra to death after ruling that her death was a murder, not a suicide. The young pregnant mother of two was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her Multan home on July 9, 2024. Her father, Syed Asad Abbas, immediately rejected the claim of suicide and alleged that her in-laws had staged the murder to appear as self-inflicted.
A first information report (FIR) was filed at New Multan police station under Sections 148, 149, and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The investigation later supported the family’s concerns, leading to a full trial of the accused.
Husband Sentenced to Death, Family Members Jailed for Life
In a court order dated November 18, Additional Sessions Judge Mohsin Ali Khan ruled that Syed Muhammad Ali Raza was “duly convicted” of Qatal-i-Amd (intentional murder) under Section 302(b) of the PPC. The verdict stated he “shall be hanged by neck till his death is pronounced.” The court also directed him to pay Rs500,000 as compensation to the victim’s family. Failure to pay will result in an additional six months of imprisonment.
Two separate court orders also found Raza’s brother, Syed Haider Raza, and his mother, Syeda Azra Parveen, guilty of involvement in the murder. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay Rs500,000 each to the victim’s family.
According to the FIR, Zehra’s father was informed by police to rush to her residence. Upon arrival, the family found her hanging from a fan, but when forensic experts examined the scene, the noose reportedly opened with unusual ease, raising immediate suspicion. A doctor at the scene estimated her time of death to be 6pm.
Police later named several members of the husband’s family in the case, including Ali Raza, his brother, parents, sister, and sister-in-law. The court’s verdict marks a significant development in a case that sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger protections against domestic violence and honor-related crimes in Pakistan.
