Rawalpindi, July 27, 2025: The investigation into the brutal murder of 19-year-old Sidra Arab Gul—allegedly carried out on the orders of a jirga in Rawalpindi’s Fauji Colony—has taken a dramatic new turn, as fresh evidence confirms that she had remarried days before her death.
According to police officials, Sidra was murdered earlier this week by her husband, Ziaur Rehman, following a verdict reportedly issued by a tribal jirga. The killing took place in the Pirwadhai area of Rawalpindi.
However, in a surprising development, Usman, a man claiming to be Sidra’s second husband, surrendered to police on the night of July 26. Documents submitted to investigators confirm that Sidra and Usman were married on July 12, 2025, in Muzaffarabad.
Court records show that Sidra appeared before a judicial magistrate in Muzaffarabad, where she testified that her marriage to Usman was based on free will. In her statement, she also feared for her life and requested protection from the court, citing pressure from her family, who she said were forcing her into an unwanted marriage. She revealed that her father had passed away, and her mother had since remarried her paternal uncle.
In a video statement released to the media, Muhammad Ilyas, Usman’s father, said Sidra arrived at their home seeking refuge. He claimed she told them she was being coerced by her family and sought legal help. Ilyas added that he spent Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 to facilitate her appearance before the court.
Four days after the marriage, Ilyas said, ten armed men forcibly entered their house and issued threats. Sidra’s family later promised to take her back “respectfully,” but just two days after she was handed over, news broke of her murder.
Fearing retribution and false accusations, Ilyas handed Usman over to the police and appealed for security, citing ongoing threats to his family.
Meanwhile, a high-level police investigation is underway. According to sources, Ziaur Rehman, Sidra’s alleged first husband, and his father have made key revelations during interrogation. Facilitators involved in both the illegal jirga and the killing have also confessed, officials confirmed.
The case has sparked outrage on social media and renewed calls for a crackdown on parallel justice systems like jirgas, which continue to operate despite being outlawed by Pakistani courts.
