The trial of the Sidra Arab honour killing case has been transferred from a district court to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) after police added charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act, in a significant legal development in one of Pakistan’s most high-profile jirga-ordered killings.

A fresh challan was submitted to the court, which assigned investigation responsibilities to Inspector Tariq Gondal.

With the addition of Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 11-W of the West Pakistan Act to the case, it has been formally moved to the ATC.

Sidra Arab was killed on July 16, 2025, on the orders of a jirga in the jurisdiction of Police Station Pirodhahi, Rawalpindi, in what authorities described as an honour killing. After her burial, the grave was deliberately effaced to conceal evidence.

Following a court-ordered exhumation, police arrested 13 accused, including the victim’s father, brothers, uncle, former husband, and the secretary of the graveyard. All 13 subsequently obtained bail after spending eight months in custody.

The case had been proceeding at District Court Rawalpindi, where charges had already been framed and a challan submitted, before the ATC transfer.