In Pakistan, Sania Zehra, a 20-year-old lady from Multan, was brutally murdered in a shocking episode of violence against women. abuse against women in Pakistan has been a heated topic for decades, and women in Pakistan are subjected to various forms of assault and domestic abuse in the absence of adequate actions or regulations. This has resulted in outrage on social media.

The victim was reportedly five months pregnant and fell victim to her husband, Syed Ali Raza Bukhari, who stands accused of her murder. The shocking details of Sania’s death triggered outcry on social media, and it also prompted calls for stricter enforcement of laws to curb domestic violence. 

Forensic investigations revealed terrible details of Sania’s trauma, indicating that she was raped and brutally killed by strangling. Additional exams revealed mutilations such as the amputation of her tongue, fractured teeth, and crushed feet, giving a bleak picture of her ordeal.

The Horrifying abuse

During the first investigation, it was discovered that Sania’s husband attempted to frame the murder as a suicide by hanging Sania’s corpse after violence. According to media accounts, the crime appeared to be motivated by a property dispute, as Sania owned the house she resided in and continues to have intense fights with her husband, Syed Ali Raza Bukhari. The deceased’s relatives said Ali Raza deceived Sania about his marital status, fraudulently claiming to be unmarried although previously married with children. It also prompted legal action from Sania’s family, who welcomed her back after giving birth to their son. Despite this background, societal pressures and the fear of shame forced Sania to reconcile, pleading with her family to drop the lawsuit. Following the event, Ali

According to the first information report (FIR), a case was registered at the New Multan police station by victim Syeda Sania Zehra’s father invoking sections 302 (intentional murder), 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The FIR, which narrated the victim’s father’s complaint, stated that he received a call on Tuesday at 9am from a police official, who asked him to head to his daughter’s residence.

#JusticeForSaniaZehra trends everywhere, but we question: will justice be served, or will this case also be added to the list of unsolved cases? Why do such standards persist in our society where we avoid having a divorced daughter due to societal judgments, only to lose them to violence? Why has justice been delayed in Pakistan in recent years? These questions weigh heavily on everyone’s minds. Until when?

Domestic Violence should not only spark discussion when such tragedies occur; it must be addressed, condemned, and punished to empower women to assert their rights without fear of reprisal. Approximately 5000 women are killed annually due to domestic violence, with thousands more injured or disabled. Lisa Hajjar, an associate professor at the University of California, describes violence against women in Pakistan as endemic across all social spheres. Is 5000 lives lost not a number that demands attention? Or is it merely 5000?

In these times, we’ve social media as the most powerful tool in the hands of the people, it can bring about change. Don’t stop speaking up, we must keep raising our voice to pressurize respective authorities to take action! It’s time to reflect, speak out, and advocate for what demands our attention the most right now.

Public Outrage On X (Twitter)

The incident has ignited public outrage, with people on X expressing their disappointment not only with the country’s justice system but also with the deeply rooted societal norms related to marriage, “larki ka ghar basana”, and more. Users are voicing their thoughts and anger on X, and here are some of their reactions.

Women are not even safe in their home, which indicates an alarming situation in Pakistan. The domestic violence in Pakistan has been left unchecked and has never been condemned due to the so called societal pressure of staying with the husband and suffer all kinds of abuse in order to prevent the divorce.