Samia Shahid took divorce before marrying, documents reveal

JEHLUM/BRADFORD: British national Samia Shahid had taken divorce from her first husband before marrying Syed Mukhtar Kazam, documents revealed.

According to the documents acquired by Geo News, the divorce took place in Britain and the nikkah ceremony was held in Jhelum, a city in the north of Punjab province.

Maulana Syed Sibtain Kazmi from Bradford told Geo News Samia Shahid and Mukhtar Kazam had approached him for the nikkah.

He said that the nikkah and divorce papers shown on Geo News are correct and carries his signature and he also retains a copy of it

He said, “Samia told me that she was forced to get into marriage with cousin Shakeel in Pakistan and she agreed for the marriage under duress.”

“I can confirm that Saima told me under oath she loved Mukhtar Kazam”, he added.

Earlier, a postmortem report suggested that Samia’s body showed signs of resistance.

The report suggested that the 28-year-old victim was strangled.

Meanwhile, Samia’s first husband Mohammad Shakeel is being investigated in the murder.

In a statement recorded by the police Shakeel said that he had never divorced Samia, sources told Geo News.

He added that Samia had committed suicide.

Samia married Syed Mukhtar Kazam, less than two years ago, against her family's wishes and went to live with his family in Dubai.

This month the victim, originally from Bradford, went to visit her father in a village called “Poteh” near Dina on the 14th of July.

Her family, who are also British nationals, were in Pakistan following a bereavement within the family.