DNA mix-up prompts second exhumation in honour killing case

A medical board comprising Additional Police Surgeon Dr Muhammad Adeel Rajput, Dr Madiha Sheikh, Dr Asad Memon and other officials collected samples from the remains for laboratory analysis.Zulekhan was allegedly drugged and strangled to death on May 22, 2025, in the Syedabad area of Jamshoro district.

Following the incident, Kotri DSP Shah Nawaz Jokhio told a press conference that the woman had allegedly been killed by her two brothers, Abdullah and Sanaullah, uncle Muhammad Ibrahim, nephew Saddam and maternal uncle Saifullah.

Police had announced the arrest of three suspects, but the accused were subsequently released on bail.The first exhumation was conducted after the grave was identified by the victim's brother Abdullah and maternal uncle Muhammad Alam Bardi.

Fourteen samples were collected, but DNA testing reportedly failed to match the victim, with the samples instead found to belong to an elderly woman.The victim's mother, Sher Bano, challenged the identification of the grave, prompting the court to order a second exhumation.

DNA mix-up prompts second exhumation in honour killing case Our Correspondent | Updated 1 minute ago | First samples reportedly belonged to elderly woman after grave was wrongly identified.

22Media International — Pakistan, world and bilingual digital newsroom coverage.