Sidra murder case sent to ATC

Police have formally added Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) to the murder case of 17-year-old Sidra Bibi, who was allegedly killed after contracting a second marriage of her choice following a divorce, and re-arrested nine suspects. The suspects include the victim's father, brother, father-in-law, former husband, the former vice-chairman of a union council, a jirga head, a gravedigger, a cemetery record keeper and a loader driver who transported the body to the cemetery. After adding the terrorism charges, police approached the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) seeking cancellation of the suspects' bail and their physical remand for fresh investigation under the ATA. Arguments on the application were completed on Monday, following which ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah reserved the verdict. The court will announce the decision on October 3, while the regular hearing has been adjourned until October 5. The investigation officer (IO) told the court that terrorism charges had been incorporated into the case and requested cancellation of the suspects' bail so they could be arrested for further investigation. He said Sidra was allegedly killed in the name of honour. The case was registered at Pirwadhai Police Station about a year ago, with 26 people, including the victim's father, brother, uncle and other family members, nominated as accused.