KARACHI, Feb 4: A referee judge of the Sindh High Court on Monday commuted death sentence into life imprisonment for the five accused in the case of firing at a marriage party in Liaquatabad on May 31, 1991.

Justice Ghulam Rabbani who was appointed referee judge after a two- member appellate bench, comprising Justice Wahid Bux Brohi and Justice S.A. Rabbani, had given a split judgment, modified death sentence into life imprisonment.

“The accused have been convicted under section 302/34 PPC and sentenced to death by way of Tazir. It may be pertinent to note that section 302 (b) provides punishment of death or imprisonment for life as Tazir having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case. The lesser punishment, thus provided for an offence under section 302 PPC is imprisonment for life as Tazir. In my view the ends of justice will be justly met in case the sentence of death awarded to the accused is converted to LI to each,” Justice Ghulam Rabbani held in the judgement.

The appellants were accused of belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement who had allegedly fired at a marriage party at Jhanda Chowk as a result of which five persons had died, while ten others, including Anwar, Naseem, M. Faisal, Abdul Salam, Safdar, Samina, Hajira, and Nasima sustained bullet injuries.

The matter was referred to Justice Ghulam Rabbani because when the matter had come up before the appellate bench, Justice Wahid Bux Brohi had found the accused guilty of multiple murders but Justice S.A. Rabbani had exonerated them by giving them benefit of doubt.