ISLAMABAD: Shahnawaz Amir has been sentenced to death by a district and sessions court in Islamabad in connection with the murder of Sara Inam, a Canadian national and the daughter-in-law of renowned journalist Ayaz Amir.

The verdict, announced by Sessions Judge Nasir Javaid Rana, comes a year after the alleged murder took place in Islamabad. Shahnawaz, who is also the son of Ayaz Amir, was accused of killing Sara Inam in the Chak Shehzad suburb on September 22, 2022.

The court, which had reserved its decision on December 9, imposed a penalty of Rs1 million in addition to the death sentence in the murder case. Shahnawaz’s mother, Samina Shah, who was a co-accused in the case, was acquitted by the Islamabad court.

Sara Inam, aged 37, was discovered dead in a farmhouse in the area, reportedly murdered with a dumbbell. Her body was concealed in a bathtub in the bathroom.

In October, the prime suspect, Shahnawaz, rejected all evidence presented by the prosecution, dismissing it as “baseless.

“His father was discharged from the case, and his mother, Sameena Shah, was granted post-arrest bail in November of the previous year. Subsequently, on December 5, both Shahnawaz and his mother were formally indicted in connection with the murder case.”