Shahnawaz Amir is sentenced to be hanged until death by a trial court in Islamabad on Thursday for murdering Sarah Inam brutally.
A fine of Rs1 million was imposed on him which would be paid to the bereaved family.
The people term it a landmark verdict which was delivered by District and Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana.
Sarah Inam, a Canadian national, was murdered by her husband, Shahnawaz Amir, son of journalist Ayaz Amir, in Islamabad last September, just a day after her arrival from Dubai.
The verdict was issued in a packed courtroom, with emotional reactions from the victim’s family and supporters present.
The court acquitted Shahnawaz’s mother, Samina Shah, who was initially co-accused in the case. The judge’s written order emphasized that the prosecution had successfully proven Shahnawaz’s guilt “beyond a shadow of any doubt.” It described the murder as “brutal and gruesome,” denying any leniency to the convicted.
The order stated, “He shall be hanged by his neck till his death, and the death sentence shall be subject to confirmation by the honorable Islamabad High Court.”
Shahnawaz was arrested in September the previous year at a farmhouse in Islamabad’s Shahzad Town. His father was discharged from the case, and his mother, Sameena Shah, was granted post-arrest bail in November. Both were indicted in December.
In January, Dr. Bushra Ashraf, who conducted Sarah’s post-mortem examination, revealed multiple fractures on her head. The court proceedings included cross-examination of witnesses, with the investigating officer testifying that Shahnawaz had confessed to the crime.
Sarah’s father, Inaumur Rahim, expressed satisfaction with Shahnawaz’s sentence but demanded punishment for Shahnawaz’s mother, suspecting her involvement in the murder.
Rahim urged the Chief Justice to take notice of the case, emphasizing the unresolved Noor Mukadam case pending in the Supreme Court.
Rahim lamented the delays in the case but acknowledged the overall outcome, stating, “At least, Shahnawaz has been punished.”
