PML-N leader indicted in Sidra Bibi honour killing case

The District and Sessions Judge Abid Rizwan Abid on Saturday admitted the charge sheet in the case of murder of 17-year-old Sidra Bibi for hearing.

Sidra Bibi was allegedly killed in the name of ‘honour’ in the Pirwadhai area for re-marrying, following her divorce from the first husband.

The court issued notices to nine accused currently in custody, directing the jail authorities to produce them on September 15. The judge also ordered the arrest and production of 18 absconding suspects, among them the victim’s mother, two sisters, sister-in-law and mother-in-law.

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Senior PML-N leader Ismatullah Khan, allegedly the head of the jirga, who is said to have sanctioned the killing, has also been indicted in the case.

Regular proceedings in the case are scheduled to commence on September 15. It is anticipated that this high-profile murder case might be transferred to a model court for expeditious trial.

This is the first homicide case in which nearly all the victim’s immediate and extended relatives, as well as neighbours, have been named as accused. Those charged include the victim’s mother, father, brother, sisters, sister-in-law, father-in-law, uncle, maternal aunt and paternal aunt.