Kirpa Burning Case: Islamabad High Court Denies Bail
The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday rejected the post-arrest bail plea of Adil Mehmood, the husband accused of burning his wife, Sania Bibi, in the Kirpa area of the federal capital. The decision was announced as the bench reviewed the victim’s dying declaration and other evidence presented during the hearing.
Ruling details and the court’s focus
A single-member bench, led by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, heard Mehmood’s petition. The court was supplied with Sania Bibi’s dying declaration, in which she alleged that her husband and his father, Mustab Hussain, dragged her inside their home, poured petrol, and set her ablaze. Her statement, recorded at PIMS Hospital Islamabad while she was undergoing treatment, frames the core of the case against the two men.
The victim’s account
Sania, a mother of three, described a brutal scene where she kept crying for help, only to be met with inaction for nearly two hours. She asserted that both Mehmood and Hussain tried to coerce her into lying about the cause of her injuries, initially suggesting a gas cylinder explosion. The statement also alleges that her jewelry was taken at the hospital and that attendants—her husband and father-in-law—denied her water until a doctor intervened. She further claimed that she and her children faced ongoing threats to their safety if she disclosed the truth.
Timeline, charges, and detention
A case was registered at Kirpa Police Station on June 9, 2025, following Sania’s statement. After the incident, Mehmood and Hussain were moved to Adiala Jail, where they remain in custody as the legal process moves forward. Sania succumbed to her injuries after nearly a month of treatment at PIMS Hospital, underscoring the severity of the crime and the lasting impact on her children.
Legal implications of the bail denial
The court’s decision to deny post-arrest bail keeps the accused in custody during trial, a common practice in cases involving violent crimes against women. The ruling reflects the judiciary’s cautious approach in situations where the victim’s dying declaration is a central piece of evidence and where subsequent testimony may influence the case’s trajectory.
Next steps in the case
With bail denied, prosecutors are expected to proceed with the trial, presenting medical reports, the dying declaration, and additional corroborating evidence. Family members and advocates emphasize the importance of a thorough judicial process to achieve accountability for Sania and justice for her children.
Context and broader implications
News of the bail denial in the Kirpa case arrives amid ongoing discussions about violence against women and the protection of vulnerable family members. While higher courts sometimes scrutinize interim orders, this decision signals a firm stance on bail in a fatal domestic violence case, reinforcing the need for timely justice for survivors and their families.
