Bail of Shahnawaz’s mother extended in Sarah Inam murder case

A local court in Islamabad has extended the interim bail of Sameena Shah till October 3 in the Sarah Inam murder case in which her son Shahnawaz Amir is the prime suspect, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Additional Sessions Judge Sheikh Muhammad Sohail on Saturday heard the petition filed by Sameena Shah seeking an extension in her pre-arrest bail. Accepting her application, the judge gave an extension in her interim bail till Monday. 

During the hearing, the investigation officer submitted the case record to the court.

Sameena Shah appeared before the court along with her lawyer Arsal Amjad Hashmi. 

The lawyer told the court that the accused (Shahnawaz) sent a Whatsapp message to his mother Sameena asking her to talk to the family of his wife Sarah about her Rukhsati (formal wedding). After that Sameena went to sleep and was unaware of what happened in the night, the lawyer added. 

Hashmi continued that his client Sameena got a call at 9:12am in which she was asked to reach Shahnawaz’s room. But when she reached there, Sarah had been murdered, he said adding that his client’s role in the whole episode was only that she had to make her son sit in the room and call the police. After her call, the police came and arrested the accused. 

During the hearing, the IO told the court that Sarah’s family which has come from Canada would record their statement before the police today.

After this, the judge extended Sameena’s interim bail till Oct 3. 

On Sept 26, Additional Sessions Judge Sheikh Sohail heard the pre-arrest bail petition of accused Sameena and granted her interim bail for three days. However, the judge directed Ayaz Amir’s wife to participate in the investigation process. The judge also asked her to submit a surety bond worth Rs50,000.

In her petition, Sameena had beseeched the court to accept her pre-arrest bail plea as she was facing health issues. She said that her slain daughter-in-law’s uncle and aunt nominated her in Sarah’s murder case.

A local court in Islamabad on Sept 24 issued arrest warrants for the father and mother of Shahnawaz Amir who was accused of murdering his Canadian wife with the dumbbell at his home in Shahzad Town after a row over a "family issue" on Friday. 

Police arrested his father journalist Ayaz Amir on Saturday and the court granted Ayaz’s physical remand. However, Ayaz was later released by the court in the case. 

Reporter Ehtisham Kiyani