DNA test ordered for Rawalpindi honor killing suspects

Police have decided to carry out DNA tests on five of the six suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a girl, allegedly committed on the orders of a jirga in the Rawalpindi honor killing case.

A 19-year-old newlywed girl named Sidra Arab Gul was brutally murdered in Rawalpindi’s Pirwadhai area. Police revealed that her husband killed her on the orders of a local jirga. The case has now taken a serious turn, with several suspects under investigation and important evidence collected. The victim’s body was exhumed earlier this week under court orders. Forensic teams, under the supervision of Area Magistrate Qamar Abbas Tarar, collected samples for a post-mortem. Hospital sources confirmed visible signs of torture, especially on her head and face, with her face turning blue, pointing to suffocation. It was confirmed that Sidra was strangled to death.

A high-level investigation team is handling the case. So far, five suspects including the victim’s husband Zia-ur-Rehman, her father-in-law Asmatullah, Arab Gul, her brother Zia-ur-Rehman (same name), and her uncle have been identified. They will soon be sent to the Forensic Laboratory in Lahore for DNA testing. Sidra’s father has already undergone a DNA test. During police interrogation, the husband and father-in-law made shocking confessions, revealing details about the jirga’s involvement in ordering the killing. Police also confirmed that the jirga members and other facilitators have admitted their roles during questioning.

This tragic incident has raised serious concerns about the misuse of traditional jirga systems and the need for stronger action against such parallel justice setups. Authorities are now working to ensure justice for Sidra, with legal action expected against all involved. Further updates will follow as the investigation moves ahead.