Islamabad district and sessions court on Thursday approved two-day physical remand of Sameena Shah, the mother of main suspect Shahnawaz Amir in the Sarah Inam murder case. She was initially granted interim bail on September 26, three days after police arrested Shahnawaz for allegedly killing his Canadian national wife.

The murder allegedly took place at a farmhouse located in the capital’s Shahzad Town area, where Shahnawaz lived along with Sameena. Police had issued arrest warrants for Shahnawaz’s parents, Sameena and senior journalist Ayaz Amir, a day after his arrest. While Ayaz has been discharged from the case, Sameena had been on bail until yesterday. Shah was produced before senior Civil Judge Muhammad Amir Aziz as the court resumed the hearing into the case today.

The investigation officer informed the court that Shah was arrested a day ago after rejection of her pre-arrest bail plea. The judge asked if the prosecution had submitted a challan before the court. The officer requested the court to grant five-day physical remand of Shah, saying “we have to retrieve a locket for the purpose of investigation”.

It was worth mentioned here that Police have become a complainant in the case, with a first information report (FIR) registered for the murder on the complaint of Shahzad Town Station House Officer Nawazish Ali Khan at the Chak Shahzad police station, initially under Section
302 (punishment for murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

Later, police added Section 109 (punishment for abetment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) of the PPC to the FIR and initiated proceedings against Shahnawaz’s parents, Sameena and senior journalist Ayaz Amir.

The development came after Sarah’s uncle filed an application with police, alleging that Shahnawaz had murdered Sarah in connivance with his parents. According to the FIR, Shahzad Town police station SHO Sub-Inspector Nawazish Ali Khan was present on Park Road near Chatha Bakhtawar when he got the information about the murder.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP