KARACHI: A judicial magistrate on Wednesday ordered the exhumation of the body of a newly married woman and formed a medical board for conducting a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of her death.

The 18-year-old woman, Misbah, died at her parents’ home in Surjani Town and her family registered a murder case against her spouse.

The order was issued by the judicial magistrate (West) on an application filed by the investigating officer (IO) under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The court while allowing the IO’s application also directed the constitution of a medical board comprising doctors to carry out the exhumation and submit its report before the court on June 23.

Misbah was brought dead to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital as her family alleged that she was tortured by her husband, Shaharyar, in their Khokhrapar home.

Also on Wednesday, the IO also produced the suspect in court and sought extension in his police remand for further interrogation.

Speaking to Dawn, the IO stated that the crime weapon — a screwdriver — was recovered on a lead provided by the suspect and would be sent for forensics.

He also said that, to date, the suspect’s two marriages have been confirmed out of the three reported.

The deceased’s mother, Shahnaz, lodged an FIR at the Surjani Town police station under Section 302 (murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

She told the police that her daughter had tied the knot with Shaharyar Butt on March 19 of her free will. She said soon after, Shaharyar started beating her as he demanded a motorcycle in dowry. Later, they came to know that it was his fourth marriage.

The deceased’s mother said that she and her family did not allow doctors to conduct a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death.

She said Shaharyar threatened them with dire consequences even after the burial and therefore they decided to register a case against him.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026