Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has revealed that the death of 20-year-old Syeda Sania Zehra was a murder, not a suicide as initially suggested. The pregnant mother of two was found dead at her Multan residence on July 9, hanging from a ceiling fan.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Bokhari disclosed that forensic evidence contradicts earlier claims of suicide. The minister stated that Sania Zehra’s husband and mother-in-law were implicated in the crime, with evidence showing they were involved in placing the noose around her neck.
The Punjab government had previously formed a six-member committee, including forensic experts, to oversee the investigation after discrepancies were found in the FIR and the post-mortem report. The committee is tasked with monitoring the case closely.
Bokhari, a criminal lawyer, asserted that forensic tests clearly indicate homicide. She highlighted that the injuries on Zehra’s neck and shoulders did not align with a noose-related death, and DNA evidence linked her husband and mother-in-law to the crime scene.
The central police officer overseeing the case confirmed that all forensic tests support the homicide theory. The report showed that the noose did not cause Zehra’s death, and DNA from her husband and mother-in-law was found on the noose and under her nails.
According to the FIR filed by Zehra’s father, Syed Asad Abbas Shah, she was discovered hanging after her family was alerted by the police. The complaint accused her husband and in-laws of murder and other crimes under the Pakistan Penal Code.
The case has drawn significant public attention and social media scrutiny, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to take action. A joint investigation team was formed, and the victim’s body was exhumed for further forensic analysis.
Sania Zehra’s husband, Ali Raza, was initially implicated and later arrested on new charges related to forgery and dishonesty after being released on bail. He had previously claimed his wife’s death was a suicide following a domestic argument.
The investigation continues as authorities seek justice for Sania Zehra and accountability for those responsible for her tragic death.
