Accused rickshaw driver in Sidra honour killing turns approver

RAWALPINDI: A rickshaw driver allegedly involved as an accomplice in the Sidra honour killing case has confessed to his crime and turned approver against the primary suspects.

Sidra Bibi, 19 was reportedly killed for ‘honour’ in the Fauji Colony area of Rawalpindi on July 17 allegedly on the orders of a jirga headed by a local political leader, Ziaur Rehman. She was quietly buried at night and all traces of the grave were erased to conceal the crime. Police had arrested seven accused in the case while Sidra’s body was exhumed on court order for autopsy.

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Rickshaw driver Khayal Muhammad confessed before the court Friday to his role in the crime under Section 164 of the CrPC and agreed to become an approver.

According to the police, Khayal Muhammad was driving the loader rickshaw and assisting the main suspects to transport Sidra Bibi’s body to the burial location. The rickshaw was owned by Mani Gul, another suspect apprehended in the Sidra honour killing case.

The rickshaw driver, along with six other suspects, including Mani Gul, Arab Gul, Zafarullah, Ismatullah, Ziaur Rehman, and Saleh Muhammad alias Saleem Gul, were presented before duty civil judge Samra Waheed.

Police had sought a seven-day physical remand to recover the pillow allegedly used in the murder of Sidra Bibi.

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The court sent the rickshaw driver to jail on judicial remand, while the six remaining suspects were handed back to police custody on a four-day physical remand.

The court directed police to present the suspects again on July 4.

‘Reveal their faces’

During the hearing, the judge questioned why the suspects’ faces were covered with black cloth.

The investigating officer said it was to shield their identities from the media due to the high-profile nature of the case.

The court rejected the explanation and ordered to reveal their faces by removing the coverings.

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Regarding the progress in the investigation, the police team told the court that the probe was ongoing and all aspects of the case were being thoroughly examined.