MULTAN: The tragic death of 20-year-old Syeda Sania Zehra, a pregnant mother of two, has been confirmed as a murder, not a suicide, according to Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari. Sania was found dead, hanging from a ceiling fan, at her home in Multan on July 9.
During a press conference in Lahore, Minister Bukhari stated, “No evidence of suicide has been found. The mother-in-law and husband together placed the noose around Sania’s neck.”
This statement comes after the Punjab government formed a six-member committee to investigate the case, which uncovered inconsistencies in the initial FIR and post-mortem report. The committee, including forensic experts, is monitoring the investigation closely.
The minister revealed that the forensic analysis showed no signs of suicide. Instead, it pointed to homicide, with evidence linking Sania’s husband and mother-in-law to the crime. The DNA of both matched the material used in the noose.
Sania’s father, Syed Asad Abbas Shah, had filed an FIR accusing her husband and in-laws of her murder, citing injuries and signs of torture on her body. Sania was five to six months pregnant at the time of her death.
Her husband, Ali Raza, was initially arrested and later released but was re-arrested after a second FIR was filed. The new charges include forgery and bigamy, as Raza had falsely declared himself single on their marriage certificate, despite being married with two daughters.
The case has drawn widespread attention on social media, with many demanding justice for Sania. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed provincial officials to meet with Sania’s grieving family and ensure a thorough investigation.