Sara Inam murder case: Shahnawaz Amir files appeal

ISLAMABAD: Shahnawaz Amir, husband of Sara Inam and son of renowned journalist Ayaz Amir has filed a clemency plea against his death sentence with the Islamabad High Court.

Sara, a Canadian national, was murdered by Shahnawaz, her husband and son of renowned journalist Ayaz Amir, in Islamabad a year ago.

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Dec 14 had announced the verdict in the Sara Inam murder case and imposed a penalty of Rs1 million.

Sessions Judge Nasir Javaid Rana delivered the verdict which was reserved last week on December 9.  

Sameena Shah, nominated as co-accused in the case, was acquitted by the court.

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On Wednesday, Shahnawaz Amir through his counsel filed a plea in the Islamabad High Court challenging the trial’s court’s decsion.

The legal maneuver includes a formal request urging the Islamabad High Court to overturn the verdict rendered on December 14, citing fundamental flaws in the trial court’s decision that, according to the petition, cannot withstand legal scrutiny.

The petitioner contends that the trial court’s judgment lacks legal merit, emphasizing that it is not sustainable within the parameters of the law.

The crux of the plea revolves around the prosecution’s alleged failure to present compelling and concrete evidence in support of the case, a key argument aimed at securing Shahnawaz’s acquittal.

Shahnawaz was arrested on Sept 23 last year at a farmhouse in Islamabad’s Shahzad Town. Sara was reportedly murdered just a day after she arrived in the country from Dubai where she had been working. The accused was initially remanded to police custody a day after his arrest and the period of his physical remand was extended several times.

His father was discharged from the case and his mother Sameena Shah, nominated as co-accused in the case, was granted post-arrest bail in November last year.

On December 5, both Shahnawaz and his mother were indicted in the case.