The district and sessions court in Islamabad has reserved its verdict in the murder case of 37-year-old economist Sarah Inam, which is scheduled to be announced on December 14. Sessions Judge Nasir Javaid Rana will deliver the decision. Sarah was brutally murdered by her husband, Shahnawaz Amir, the son of journalist Ayaz Amir, in Islamabad’s Chak Shahzad area on September 23, 2022.
During the recent court hearing, Shahnawaz’s mother, Samina Shah, reminisced about Sarah as a “very sweet child who loved her a lot.” Samina recounted that she was in her room, unaware of the incident due to the noise from the air conditioner. She described her shock upon learning about the event from Shahnawaz and her subsequent conversation with her husband, Ayaz Amir.
Samina also defended her actions on the day of the incident, stating, “If I wanted, I could have helped Shahnawaz escape.” Meanwhile, Samina’s lawyer, Nisar Asghar, raised questions about the prosecution’s handling of the case, highlighting the absence of key evidence like Sarah Inam’s radiologist report and the prosecution’s failure to use Samina Shah as a witness.
Background of the Victim and the Accused
Sarah Inam, a Canadian national and successful economist, had a short-lived marriage of three months with Shahnawaz. With a master’s degree from the University of Waterloo, she worked in the UAE government sector. Her tragic death has left behind grieving parents and two elder brothers.
Shahnawaz, previously acquitted in a separate case regarding illegal weapon possession, has given conflicting statements regarding the events leading to Sarah’s death. He initially confessed to the murder, citing suspicions of infidelity, but later recanted, providing an alternative account of the night’s events.
