• Ayaz Amir says he asked Shahnawaz’s mother to tie him up with ropes with the help of servants
• Parents of the Canadian national woman to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday

Sarah Inam, the 37-year-old Canadian national, who was murdered allegedly by her husband Shahnawaz Amir in Islamabad kept her marriage secret from her parents, the police investigation officer (IO) told the Islamabad district and sessions court on Monday.

Shahnawaz Amir, the son of analyst Ayaz Amir, was arrested on Friday while Ayaz Amir was taken into custody on Saturday. They were remanded into police custody for two and one day, respectively.

The police produced them before the court on Monday at the end of physical remand.

When the hearing began, the judged told extra people to leave the courtroom, saying only those who were relevant to the case could stay.

He approved the pre-arrest bail petition filed by Shahnawaz’s mother Samina Shah, who said her son informed her about the murder in a text message and she rushed to his room but Sarah Inam had already died by then.

The investigation officer sought another 7 days of physical remand of Shahnawaz, saying that the police needed to recover the passport and money from him.

The judge asked how Ayaz Amir was implicated in the murder. The IO replied that the uncle and aunt of the deceased had nominated him.

When the judge asked where were the parents of the deceased, the IO informed the court that they were in Canada and will arrive in Pakistan by Tuesday.

The investigation officer told the court that Sarah Inam had kept her marriage to Shahnawaz secret from her parents.

Ayaz Amir said that he wanted to speak for himself in the court.

The analyst said that he informed the police about the incident and requested them to rush for the scene.

He said he was in Chakwal — over 100kms away from Islamabad — and learned about the incident over phone.

Ayaz Amir said he tried to contact the Islamabad police chief but in vain and then informed SP Rural, requesting him to rush to the scene.

When the police arrived at the house, I left for Islamabad from Chakwal, he said.

Ayaz Amir said that there was no mention of him in the FIR but police say that they had nominated him on a statement from the deceased’s uncle.

“If there is a charge against me, show me some evidence. The police is holding me under Section 109,” he said.

Amir also said that after he learned about the murder he told Shahnawaz’s mother to seek help from servants and tie him up with ropes.

He said the police did not ask him any question during the remand but were holding his cellphone for the third consecutive day.

The judge asked who was the counsel for the prosecution side. None, the police said.

The court extended the physical remand of Shahnawaz Amir by three days and Ayaz Amir’s by one day.

The case

Shahnawaz allegedly killed Sarah, 37, hitting her with a dumbbell during an argument and dumped her body in a bathtub before the police arrived at their Chak Shehzad farmhouse residence Friday morning.

He was arrested with the dumbbell used for murder. The police FIR revealed gory details about the murder.

Shahnawaz was produced before a court on Saturday and remanded into police custody for two days.

On the police request, the court also issued arrest warrants for Ayaz Amir and Shahnawaz’s mother Saminah Shah.

Ayaz Amir was arrested Saturday night and remanded into police custody for one day. After the hearing on Sunday, Ayaz Amir said that he had confidence in the court.

Shahnawaz Amir and Sarah, a Canadian national, tied the knot very recently. She worked in Dubai and had returned to Pakistan only days before being murdered.

The couple were residing at Chak Shahzad farmhouse No. 46, reportedly owned by Shahnawaz’s mother.

Shahnawaz allegedly beat up Sara Thursday night and killed her with a heavy dumbbell. The murder was reported Friday morning with some reports suggesting that it happened early morning.

Police moved the body to the Polyclinic Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Ayaz Amir arrived at the scene by noon and said that it was a ‘heart-wrenching incident.’

“Such an incident should not happen with anyone,” Ayaz Amir told reporters outside the house. “No one should have to bear such trauma.”

Soon after the crime surfaced, #AyazAmir and #Sarah became top trend. #JusticeforSarah began trending on Saturday.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.