JournalismPakistan.com | Published October 01, 2022
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ISLAMABAD—In his first column after being discharged from the murder case of his daughter-in-law, Ayaz Amir expressed extreme grief and sorrow at the horrible incident, showing no sympathy for his alleged culprit son.
His column in the daily Dunya—Kahane ko kia raha gia hai (What is left to say)—shows the veteran journalist's grief and shock at the brutal murder of Sara Inam. She was killed by her husband, Shahnawaz Amir, at a farmhouse in Islamabad on September 23.
As the police became a complainant in the case against Shahnawaz, Ayaz was also taken into custody. However, a local court discharged him from the case, saying the police could not present evidence against him.
"Words are insufficient. I only met her twice. Such an intelligent, beautiful and innocent girl. I told my unlucky son that you don't deserve to be her husband, but try to become one," Ayaz wrote, narrating how he was shocked when he was told about the murder. "My brain was numb. I only said make sure no one is able to escape."
He added now, when he looks back, he thinks he should have been more straightforward with his son.
The columnist, who also served as a legislator in the National Assembly from 2008 to 2013, admitted that as the family head, he could not keep it together. "When families break up, children are affected…"
He said only Sara's father understands the pain of her murder. Ayaz did not defend his son and talked about his drug addiction and bohemian lifestyle. He said Shahnawaz's first two marriages ended quickly. The first marriage lasted only for eight days. The journalist said he had asked Sara if she knew about the previous marriages of Shahnawaz and how she would cope with a person like him, she said she knew about them, and everything would be fine.
On the day of the incident, Ayaz said Shahnawaz called him and said terminators had come to kill him and that they were wearing iron clothes. Ayaz told Shahnawaz to let him talk with his mother.
"When I think of Sara, I am unable to sleep. And when I think about her father, my heart sinks."
Ayaz said that he decided never to see his son and would not help him in any way. "Thanks to Islamabad police, I was kept in the police station where the remand for Shahnawaz was taken."
At the end of the column, Ayaz said he hoped that complete justice would be done in this case.
Photo credit: fccsocieties.org
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