News
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Rangers man gets death for killing civilian* Six others awarded life imprisonment in Sarfraz murder case
By Asghar Azad
KARACHI: For the second time in country’s history, a civilian court, on Friday, awarded death sentence to a military/para-military personnel on charges of murder of a civilian, Sarfraz Shah, on June 8, 2011 at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park Boat Basin Karachi.
The judgment was pronounced by an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Bashir Ahmad Khoso.
Pronouncing the verdict, Khoso said, “The court has found guilty the accused, Shahid Zafar, as he had opened fire on the deceased, Sarfaraz Shah, while six others, including five Pakistan Rangers’ personnel were given life imprisonment in the case.
The court also imposed fine on Shahid Zafar of Rs 200, 000, while the remaining accused will pay Rs 100, 000 to the victim’s family.
All the seven accused, including six Pakistan Rangers’ personnel Sub-Inspector Bahaur Rehman, Lance Naik Liaquat Ali, Manthar, Muhammad Tariq, Muhammad Afzal Khan and Shahid Zafar and a civilian Muhammad Afsar Khan along with their counsels and Special Public Prosecutor General Muhammad Khan Burriro, National and International media-men were also present in the court.
ATC Judge Khoso said in his verdict, “In view of my foregoing findings and reasons, it is my considered opinion that prosecution has proved its case before this court against the accused beyond any reasonable doubt,” and further “The accused persons on the other hand have failed to rebut the case and kept on changing their defence versions.”
According to the verdict, the judge said, “I therefore find all the accused guilty of Shah’s murder, an offence punishable Under Section 7 (a) of Anti Terrorism Act of 1997- R/W Section 302, 34 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). “The accused, Zafar, intentionally fired upon deceased while the co-accused in furtherance of their common intention, got hold of the deceased and participated in the murder of Shah.”
The judge further said, “As such, I hereby convict all the accused persons under Section 265 H (2) of Cr PC and award death sentence to the accused Zafar to be hanged by neck till death subject to confirmation and sentence rest of the accused namely Muhammad Afzal, Bahur Rahman, Liaquat Ali, Muhammad Tariq, Manthar Ali and Afsar Khan under these mitigating circumstances, to suffer imprisonment for life.”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk