More than a month after Syeda Sania Zehra, a 20-year-old pregnant mother of two, was found dead in Multan, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari confirmed her death as a homicide, not a suicide. Zehra was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan on July 9, leading to initial suspicions of suicide. However, during a recent press conference, Minister Bokhari revealed that no evidence supports this claim. Instead, forensic investigations pointed to foul play involving Zehra’s mother-in-law and husband.
The case gained significant attention after discrepancies were found between the FIR and the post-mortem report, prompting the Punjab government to form a six-member forensic committee to oversee the investigation. The committee’s findings strengthened suspicions of murder, with forensic evidence linking Zehra’s husband and mother-in-law to the crime.
Minister Bokhari emphasized that the injuries on Zehra’s neck and shoulders were inconsistent with a suicide. Forensic experts confirmed that the noose found on Zehra’s neck did not cause her death. Instead, DNA evidence tied the husband and mother-in-law to the dupatta used in the incident, further solidifying the case against them.
As the investigation progressed, the victim’s father denied the possibility of suicide, alleging that his daughter was murdered for her property. Social media echoed these sentiments, with widespread calls for justice.
The suspect, Ali Raza, Zehra’s husband, was arrested after an initial release. A new FIR was registered against him, revealing that he had falsely declared himself single during their marriage, concealing his previous marriage and two daughters. Despite his claims of innocence, Raza was re-arrested after a press conference where he insisted that Zehra had taken her own life.
