Rawalpindi police add anti-terror charges in Sidra Bibi killing case

RAWALPINDI: Police have added anti-terrorism and other serious charges to the case concerning the killing of 17-year-old Sidra Bibi, who was allegedly murdered on the orders of a jirga after entering into a second marriage following her divorce.

According to the investigation detailed by police, Pirwadhai police inserted provisions of Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Section 11-WW, along with charges related to desecration of the body, illegal burial, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence, 11 months and four days after the case was first registered. The District Prosecution Branch has approved the inclusion of the additional offences.

Case to be moved to anti-terror court

With the fresh provisions added, the matter is set to be transferred from the court of the Additional District and Sessions Judge to the Anti-Terrorism Court in Rawalpindi next week for trial. Police have also decided to reopen the investigation and file applications seeking cancellation of bail granted to all 18 accused, their re-arrest and the submission of a fresh challan.

Police expect the accused to be arrested next week. Following the addition of terrorism charges, the accused have reportedly gone into hiding. Rawalpindi police have now become the complainant in the case, and close family members of the deceased have also been named among the accused.

Allegations in the investigation

Former Union Council vice chairman and PML-N city leader Ismatullah Khan remains the main accused in the case. He is alleged to have presided over the jirga that ordered Sidra Bibi’s killing.

Police said the victim’s father had earlier registered a case against her before the murder, alleging that she had eloped with Mohammad Usman, married him and taken cash and jewellery. Investigators said she was later brought back from Muzaffarabad after being assured that she would be formally sent off after the marriage, but a jirga was convened the same night and it allegedly ordered her death.

According to police, Sidra Bibi was strangled by her father, mother, brother, first husband and sisters. Investigators further said her body was buried without funeral prayers in a large shopping bag during heavy rain after alleged collusion with graveyard officials.

Witnesses told police that Sidra Bibi’s first husband had divorced her but declined to provide written divorce papers, saying he would not allow her to remarry. Police said she had informed her parents about the divorce and alleged abuse, and was reportedly told not to return home. She later married Mohammad Usman, a resident of her locality, after which the incident took place.

The investigating officer said the case was reopened after the addition of terrorism and other major charges. Fresh statements from all accused will now be recorded before a new challan is submitted, while the case file has already been retrieved from the trial court.