On December 30th 1998, a cold morning in Ramadan, the police were called at “Asma Nawab case” the infamous triple murder of Nawab family. At the crime scene Nawab Ahmed, his wife Abrar Begam and his son Asif Nawab where brutally murdered, there hands and legs were bound mouth gaged and throats were slit, the daughter Asma Nawab reported the murder, when she returned from her college.
As cash, jewelry and other valuables were missing the crime was initially considered as a robbery, but the gruesome way of murders were telling a different story. During the investigation investigators find out that the college Asma study in was closed that day. Now primary suspect, Asma under investigation confessed, that she was at home at the time of crime, and revealed that three men Farhan, his nephew Wasim and friend javaid were behind the murder robbery.
Investigation of the case
Further investigation revealed that Asma and Farhan had a love affair, and Asma´s family members were strongly opponent of this relation, even at some point, Asma´s brother beat Farhan and warned him to stay away from his sister.
The three suspects admitted that Asma Nawab was the coconspirator of the crime. At the time of crime, Asma left the door opened for them to enter according to the plan. At first, they entered the room where Asma mother and brother were sleeping, the three perpetrators bound and gagged Asma`s mother Abrar begam and her brother Asif. Than Asma went to other room, where her father was sleeping, she called her father saying, that her mother is not feeling well and need to be taken to hospital. When Nawab ahmed entered the room Farhan and Javeed gaged and bound him too.
Asma nawab at court hearing file photo
Now the robbery began, they took jewelry and 50 thousand worth of price bonds, but they were unable to find the key for safe. At this moment, Asma again helped them finding the key that was hidden by her mother in her cloths.
Till now, all three members of Asma family know that she is coconspirator of this crime, and Asma know there´s no way out for her. According to the investigators, Asma advised Farhan to kill her family members. Farhan Javed and Waseem removed their cloths and cover themselves with bed sheets provided by Asma. Nawab Ahmed, his wife Abrar begum and son Asif were brutally killed with their throats slit. During investigation, Javed denied contributing in the killing, and that, Farhan and his nephew did that. Wasim said all the killing were done by his uncle Farhan. Farhan claimed, he killed two of them and Javed killed Asif at the end.
The triple murder caused fear and anger among the members of society, and immense pressure on justice system. A seven month speedy trial ended on 7th july 1999, Wasim, was sentenced for life imprisonment, whereas sentencing Asma, Farhan and Javed to death, and were send to death row.
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Twisted trial of Asma Nawab Case
The defense appealed in Sindh high court, where appeal was rejected. Later the defense appealed in Supreme Court, arguing, that the murder weapon that was a kitchen knife, doesn´t fall in the category of lethal weapon, the defense scrutinized some other pieces of evidences. Fortunately for defense, the two judge court decision resulted in tie, A referee Judge reviewed previous decision, passing a verdict in favor of defense, on 3rd April 2018, after twenty years on death row and several trials, Asma nawab, Farhan and Javed were released from prison putting an end to the infamous “Asma Nawab Case”. But after all these years Asma didn´t decided to go with her former love, Farhan, for whom, she supposedly committed this crime and experienced this ordeal. Since then, Asma maintained a low profile and her whereabouts are unknown.
You may also like to watch a short documentary on Asma Nawab Case
