Sania Zehra: Murdered pregnant woman's body exhumed; case filed against husband, in-laws

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has taken swift action regarding the tragic incident of Sania Zehra, a 20-year-old pregnant mother of two from New Multan, who was allegedly murdered and found hanged in her home near Kumharanwala Chowk on July 9.

Sania's body was discovered hanging from a fan at her in-laws' house, prompting the chief minister to demand a detailed report from the Multan city police officer. The shocking nature of the case has drawn significant attention from both the public and the authorities.

On Saturday, Sania Zehra's body was exhumed on court orders, with medical samples sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. Dr. Munazzah, in charge of anti-violence for women, stated that the Punjab government took the step of exhumation to collect samples for forensic examination. "We have collected samples, and they are being sent to Lahore. The results will come out in a few days, and the case details will be known," she said.

Following a complaint from Sania's father, Asad Abbas, a case has been registered against her husband, Syed Ali Raza, and his family. The suspects are currently on the run. Abbas accused his daughter's in-laws of killing her and staging it as a suicide. "My daughter was killed at night and hanged in the morning to make it look like a suicide," Abbas claimed. "A police scene was then created around the case. I appeal to the Punjab government and the district administration that the post-mortem has been completed. My daughter was tortured and hanged; I want justice."

The exhumation was conducted in the presence of a magistrate, ensuring proper legal oversight. The collected medical samples are now in Lahore for forensic analysis, which is expected to shed light on the exact cause of death. The New Multan police station has assured that efforts are underway to arrest the suspects soon.

This incident has sparked widespread outrage and demands for justice, highlighting critical issues of domestic violence and the necessity for thorough investigations into suspicious deaths. Advocacy groups and citizens are calling for stronger protective measures for women and more stringent actions against perpetrators of domestic abuse.