Tag: life imprisonment

  • Rape convict’s death penalty converted to life imprisonment by LHC

    Rape convict’s death penalty converted to life imprisonment by LHC

    Lahore High Court (LHC) has on Tuesday changed the death sentence of a man convicted of raping an 11-month-old to life imprisonment. The decision was made in light of a negative DNA report and the age of the convict at the time of the incident.

    Justice Aalia Neelum headed the two-judge bench hearing the case, where she remarked, “We have concluded that the prosecution has proven its case against the appellant, Muhammad Rafique, beyond any doubt. However, the factors that have persuaded us not to uphold the capital sentence of the appellant are the negative DNA report and the appellant’s age at the time of the incident.”

    The verdict states that the High Court has maintained the fine of three lac rupees as charged by the trial court but the court believes that the death sentence awarded to the appellant is quite “harsh” considering the age of the convict at the time of the crime and the negative result of the DNA report. As per law, the accused always gets the benefit of the doubt and in this case this results in mitigating the severity of the punishment by changing it to life imprisonment.

    Justice Neelum observed that there is no doubt that the baby girl was raped because in our traditional society, no parent of a minor girl will risk her future by falsely implicating somebody of raping her.

    The case against Muhammad Rafique was registered back in 2019 at a police station in Kasur.

  • Court sentenced former policeman for throwing acid on ex-fiance

    A Session court in Karachi gave life imprisonment to a former policeman, Zeeshan Umar for throwing acid on his ex-fiance, Raheela to take revenge over refusing his marriage proposal in 2015.

    Zeeshan Umar was found guilty of attacking 19-year-old Raheela Raheem, her brother, and her nephew on July 5, 2015, in Mobina Town. Another accused Agha Sohrab was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

    Additional District and Session Judge Javed Hyder Phulpoto pronounced the verdict reserved after recording arguments and pieces of evidence. The trial took six years to reach the final verdict.

    A fine of Rs1 million was also imposed on the convict by the judge.

    Counsel of the complainant, Salahuddin Panhwar said that according to the prosecution, Umar and Raheela got engaged in 2015 but their relationship was called off after a few months because the victim’s family considered him (Umar) a mugger.

    He further said that Raheela went to a local shop to put henna on her hands on the day of the incident, a day before Eid. She was standing outside the house carrying her six-month-old nephew, Muhammad Hadi, when the culprit suddenly appeared and threw acid on her face and the child.

    She lost one eye and her face got completely burnt. Her nephew also suffered serious burn injuries.

    Prior to this, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered the police to give security to the victim and her family in 2017. The counsel emphasised that they still need protection since higher-ups of police failed to follow court’s orders.

  • Court orders life imprisonment to two men for throwing acid on woman

    Court orders life imprisonment to two men for throwing acid on woman

    On Thursday, the Anti-Terrorism court sentenced life imprisonment to two convicts, Muhammad Ahmed and Shah Nawaz for throwing acid on a woman.

    The sentence was given under Section 336-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) read with section 34 PPC along with a fine of Rs 1 million being paid to the victim.

    On June 7, 2021, the victim, Maryam was going to her workplace at Sui Gas Society which is near Chungi Ameer Sadhu in Lahore when Ahmad and Nawaz were waiting for her on a motorcycle. They offered her a ride to the workplace which Maryam refused. Upon refusal, convicts threw acid on her face, due to which she suffered burn injuries on the face, neck, and hands. The case was registered at Johar Town Police Station.

    The convict, Ahmad claimed that he didn’t throw acid on a victim. When he refused to marry her, she poured the hot liquid on herself.

    The second culprit said in his statement that he was innocent and police made up a story against him.

    However, the complaintant claimed that she had no prior relationship with Ahmad and also rejected the claims he made against her.