PESHAWAR, Nov 20: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday commuted the sentence of 18-year imprisonment awarded to a killer to 10 years in a double murder case.

The bench comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ijaz Afzal partially accepted the appeal of the appellant, Niazmand Shah, and observed that it was a case of grave and sudden provocation.

The appellant had killed his sister-in-law and a person, Dildar Shah, at Banda Parachgan, Kohat, on Feb 14, 1999, and claimed that he had seen them in a compromising position.

He was convicted by the Kohat additional district and sessions judge on May 6 and sentenced to 18-year imprisonment.

Advocate Mian Abdul Fayyaz appeared for the appellant and argued that he had committed the murders because of “honour” and he deserved leniency. He argued that it was a case of grave and sudden provocation.

Mr Fayyaz contended that the appellant was convicted under Section 302(c) of Pakistan Penal Code under which the trial court could sentence a person to up to 25 years’ imprisonment. He referred to various judgments of superior courts.

Advocate Zahir Shah represented the complainants and argued that the appellant had not denied the commission of the offence. He argued that the convict had killed two persons and he did not deserve any leniency.