European probe warrants have
been issued for two aunts of an 18-year-old Pakistani woman
believed to have been killed by her family after refusing an
arranged marriage in Pakistan, the Resto del Carlino newspaper
reported Tuesday.
The aunts, one believed to be in the UK and the other in France,
allegedly sent texts to Saman Abbas's 16-year-old brother urging
him to cover up her suspected murder - instructions which he
ignored.
The boy confirmed to a preliminary investigations judge Friday
that Saman's uncle, 43-year-old Danish Hasnain, had strangled
her after she refused to marry an older man the family had
picked out for her in Pakistan.
But the boy reportedly defended his parents, Shabbar Abbas and
Nazia Shaheen.
Saman's mother lured her home from the shelter she had taken
refuge in with a deceptive text message that said the family
would respect her wishes, the Gazzetta di Reggio newspaper said
Wednesday.
According to the Emilian paper, Saman's mother sent her a
text saying "please get in touch, come home. We are dying. Come
back, we'll do as you say".
Saman went home on April 22, a week before she disappeared from
Novellara near Reggio Emilia and is believed to have been
strangled by Hasnain, before the family allegedly disposed of
her body, which has yet to be found.
Abbas's mother is under investigation along with her father
Shabbar, who are both fugitives and believed to be somewhere in
Pakistan.
Also under investigation in the case are Hasnain, believed to
have been the actual murderer, and her cousins Nomanulhaq
(believed to be in hiding somewhere in Europe along with the
uncle) and Ikram Ijaz, now in custody in Reggio and the only
member of the family to have been arrested, in France on May 28
while trying to reach Spain.
The search for Abbas's body goes on in and around Novellara.
Her brother was placed in the care of a guardian by a minors'
prosecutor Friday.
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