Husband Sentenced to Death for Murder of Sania Zahra in Multan

MULTAN: An additional district and sessions judge has sentenced Syed Muhammad Ali Raza to death for the murder of his wife, Sania Zahra, who was found dead under suspicious circumstances in July last year.

On November 18, Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohsin Ali Khan ruled that Ali Raza was guilty under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The court ordered that he “be hanged until death occurs” and directed him to pay Rs500,000 in compensation to the victim’s family. Failure to pay will result in an additional six months’ imprisonment.

The case began on July 9, 2024, when 20-year-old Sania Zahra — a mother of two — was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in her home. Her father, Syed Asad Abbas Shah, rejected claims of suicide and accused her in-laws of killing her. An FIR was later registered at New Multan Police Station.

In a separate ruling, the court also convicted Ali Raza’s brother, Syed Haider Raza, and mother, Syeda Azra Parveen, sentencing both to life imprisonment and ordering each to pay Rs500,000 to the victim’s family.

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Case Background

A post-mortem report issued on July 14 stated that Sania died due to asphyxiation caused by hanging, with no external injuries noted. Forensic findings revealed that the neck bone was intact and the rope used in the alleged hanging detached unusually easily when examined.

The police had initially nominated multiple family members — including the husband, brother-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and another relative — based on the complaint filed by Sania’s father.

On July 20, police arrested the main accused, Ali Raza, marking a crucial development in the case.