A DOCUMENTARY on the alleged “honour killing” of a Bradford woman will be broadcast this week.
Samia Shahid, 28, died in July 2016 while visiting family in Pakistan after receiving a phone call claiming her father was critically ill.
Her father Chaudhry Muhammad Shahid, who was held as a suspected accessory and was later released on bail, died in Pakistan last month.
Her former husband, Muhammad Shakeel, from an arranged marriage, and her father were charged with her murder and her ex-husband was also charged with raping her before her death.
A documentary, Murdered for Love? Samia Shahid, will be broadcast on Wednesday, February 21 on BBC Two, at 9pm, after it was postponed last month following her father’s death.
Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who has campaigned on the case, has been interviewed for the documentary, along with Samia’s friends.
The documentary also includes an interview with Samia’s second husband, Mukhtar Kazam, who tells the dramatic and tragic story of Samia’s return to Pakistan.
Ms Shah had demanded that authorities in Pakistan exhume Samia’s body and commission an independent autopsy.
The beautician, from Ms Shah’s constituency, had been buried in the graveyard of the village where her family lived.
Ms Shah said: “I believe this will be a very powerful and moving documentary that will give a unique insight into how the death of Samia impacted on the lives of people who were close to her.
“It is so important that we do not forget what happened to Samia and that we continue to push for justice for her and other women like her who may suffer the same fate. “Currently, the case is still progressing through the Pakistani legal system with one person due to stand trial charged with her rape and murder.”
Samia married Mr Kazam in Leeds in 2014 after getting divorced, and moved with him to Dubai.
Mr Kazam claimed his wife was killed because her family disapproved of their marriage. He also wanted to get the case moved out of Jehlum.
Initially it was said that Samia died of a heart attack and that there had been no visible signs on her body, but on August 14, 2016, a Pakistan police probe concluded foul play was involved. Pakistan’s chief justice agreed to transfer the murder case to another city after prosecutors raised fears of witness intimidation, in October last year.
There has so far been no confirmation where the case will be transferred to, although Lahore is understood to be a possible location.
MORE TOP STORIES The station house officer of Mangla police station in Jehlum was dismissed after being investigated for obstructing justice during the investigation and letting people involved in the case go, despite clear instructions.
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