ISLAMABAD: The family of Sarah Inam, a Canadian national who was brutally murdered by her husband last month, will stay in the capital till completion of the court trial against the alleged killer.

The victim’s father, Inamur Rehman on Wednesday confirmed this.

The family — father and two brothers — of Sarah Inam along with close relatives conducted a news conference here on Wednesday along with the founder of a United States-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Helping Heart Caring Soul.

Addressing the media, Mr Inam said that Sarah’s husband is a predator and extortionist who trapped her for his ulterior motives.

Shahnawaz, son of Ayaz Amir, a renowned journalist, enticed Sarah Inam to marry him and later started extorting money from her, he added.

Shahnawaz kept demanding money from her and mentally tortured her and later brutally killed her, he said, adding that, she had been working in Canada and was also associated with USAID.

She had been working as a consultant in the finance ministry of Abu Dhabi, Mr Inam said, adding about eight to 10 weeks ago, she informed him that she was in a relationship with someone and wanted to get married. The family was shocked after hearing about her marriage in the last week of July.

After finding out that her groom is the son of Ayaz Amir, the family was relieved, he said, adding that later his mother talked to them on the phone and praised Sarah Inam.

Sarah lived in Abu Dhabi and Shahnawaz in Pakistan, Mr Inam said, adding that he talked with Shahnawaz on the phone many times and he seemed nice.

Later, he started demanding money from Sarah and the family gradually came to the conclusion that he was an extortionist, the victim’s father said, adding that we have no idea how much money he extorted from her, as Sarah has accounts in Abdu Dhabi.

He said that she came to Pakistan once or twice but the family was not aware of it. Shahnawaz enticed and later murdered her and it was all preplanned, Mr Inam said, adding that there were only three people in the farmhouse and on the next day her body was found from there.

We want justice from the Pakistani judicial system, he said, adding that our counsel thinks that the case against Shahnawaz was strong because there was substantial evidence. We are satisfied with police and the investigation over the case, Mr Inam added.

About Ayaz Amir, Mr Inam said that he was not present in the house at the time of the murder. We do not want to implicate any innocent person in the case, but whoever is guilty should be punished.

Sarah Inam’s brothers, uncles and an aunt and cousins also spoke. Ikram-ur-Rehman, uncle of the victim, said something like this would have happened if Noor Mukadam’s murderer was hanged.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2022