A local court on Tuesday announced a major verdict in the high-profile Sania Zahra murder case, sentencing the main accused, Muhammad Ali Raza, to death. Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohsin Ali Khan delivered the judgement after more than a year of proceedings.
According to the verdict, co-accused Haider Ali Shah and Azra Parveen were handed life imprisonment, while three other accused — Jeevan Ali Shah, Kanwal and Madiha — were acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
The case was registered at New Multan Police Station last year on the complaint of the victim’s father, Asad Abbas Shah. Sania Zahra’s body had been found hanging inside a room of her house on July 9, prompting her family to allege murder and nominate six people, including her husband Ali Raza, brother-in-law Haider Ali and mother-in-law Azra Parveen.
During the trial, which lasted one year, four months and nine days, the court recorded testimonies of 42 witnesses. A joint investigation team comprising senior police officers was also formed to probe the case, and Sania Zahra’s body was later exhumed on court orders to gather additional evidence.
Deputy Prosecutor Mian Bilal argued the case for the state, while plaintiff’s lawyers Shehryar Ahsan and Mian Rizwan Sattar presented arguments on behalf of the victim’s family. The defence was represented by advocate Ziaur Rehman Randhawa.
Ali Raza, who was brought to court in police custody, was declared responsible for the murder of his wife. The court noted that the prosecution had established its case through witness statements and forensic evidence.
Sania Zahra, who leaves behind two young children, was found dead under suspicious circumstances, leading to a prolonged investigation and trial that drew widespread public attention.
The court’s decision brings the legal proceedings to a close, although the convicted individuals retain the right to appeal.