In a landmark verdict that has brought a measure of closure to a grieving family, an Additional District and Sessions Court in Multan sentenced Syed Muhammad Ali Raza, the husband of 20-year-old Sania Zehra, to death for her brutal murder. The ruling, issued on November 18, 2025, also awarded life imprisonment to Raza’s brother, Syed Haider Raza, and mother, Syeda Azra Parveen, with each ordered to pay Rs500,000 in compensation to the victim’s family.
Sania, a mother of two and seven months pregnant at the time, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her in-laws’ home in Multan on July 9, 2024. Initially dismissed as suicide and buried without a post-mortem, her father, Syed Asad Abbas, refused to accept the narrative, alleging foul play by her in-laws who staged the scene to cover up the killing.
An FIR was registered under Sections 148, 149, and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code at New Multan police station on Abbas’s complaint. Court-ordered exhumation and forensic analysis later confirmed asphyxia due to hanging, but witness testimonies and evidence pointed to intentional murder amid reports of domestic abuse.
After the sentencing, Abbas addressed the media in a voice choked with emotion, declaring, “Ab susral main koi bahu qatl nahin hogi, ab koi aur Sania Zehra nahin banegi”, resonated across Pakistan, drawing tears and applause from supporters gathered outside the court.
Abbas, who fought for over 16 months through 42 witness statements and a joint investigation team, emphasized that this justice was not just for his daughter but for every woman enduring silent cruelty in marital homes.
The case, which sparked nationwide outrage and calls for stricter anti-domestic violence laws, highlights the pervasive issue of “honor” killings and spousal abuse in Pakistan. Rights activists hailed the verdict as a deterrent, with Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari noting earlier that “no evidence of suicide was found.” Three other in-laws were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, but the convictions mark a rare swift accountability in such cases.
As Abbas urged society to foster respect and protection for women, his plea serves as a powerful reminder: True justice must prevent tragedies, not just punish them.
