Father of British woman killed for 'honour' in Pakistan granted bail

Lawyer says police failed to provide evidence of Muhammad Shahid's involvement

A single bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday granted bail to the father of slain British-Pakistani woman Samia Shahid.

Samia was found dead in Pandori village in the house of her first husband Shakeel Ahmed on July 20. The family claimed she died a natural death. Her second husband, Mukhtar Kazim, alleged that she was killed by her family as they disapproved of her marriage with him. On the basis of his complaint, Jhelum police booked Ahmed, and Samia’s father Muhammad Shahid for murder.



However, Shahid was granted bail over lack of evidence. During the hearing, Shahid's lawyer Waheed Anjum told the court that his client was the one who informed the police of the incident and requested an autopsy. The police failed to provide direct or circumstantial evidence which proved Shahid's involvement in the murder, he added.

"Samia was found dead in Muhammad Shakeel’s house. When Shahid reached there, he found her dead and informed police," Anjum said.

However, the investigating officer of the case Muhammad Afzal claimed that Shahid's bail will not have an impact on the trial.