A division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of appeals filed by convicted murderer Shahnawaz Amir against his sentence until after the summer vacation.
A division bench comprising Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the appeal against the death sentence of Shahnawaz Amir as well as the petition against the acquittal of his mother, Samina Shah, in the high-profile Sara Inam murder case.
During the proceedings, Advocate Chaudhry Abdul Aziz appeared on behalf of the convict, while Rizwan Abbasi represented the father of the deceased, Sara Inam. The court inquired whether the parties were ready for arguments. The lawyers confirmed their readiness.
Chaudhry Abdul Aziz began his arguments by reading the text of the FIR. He informed the court that co-accused Ayaz Amir had been discharged from the case at an early stage, and that order was never challenged before any forum. He also noted that the trial court had acquitted Samina Shah due to lack of evidence.
When the court inquired how Samina Shah was acquitted, the counsel responded that it was due to insufficient evidence. The court was then informed that the counsel for Samina Shah, Nisar Asghar, was in Lahore appearing before another bench.
The court noted that arguments had already commenced, and it was only now being disclosed that Samina Shah’s counsel was not present. The lawyers were asked to suggest a date for the next hearing.
Advocate Rizwan Abbasi suggested fixing the case for the following week or after the summer vacations. The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until after the summer break.
It may be recalled that Shah Nawaz Amir was convicted of murdering his wife, Sara Inam, in September 2022. The trial court had sentenced him to death.