ISLAMABAD, Jan 7: The Supreme Court on Friday acquitted five convicts in a double murder case by giving them the benefit of doubt.

A three-member bench comprising Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan acquitted the convicts including Aslam, Ashiq, Mohammad Fayyaz, Liaquat and Latif on the basis of invalid evidence and improper investigations against them.

An FIR was lodged with the Raja Jang police, Kasur district, on August 5, 1989 nominating 10 persons in a double murder of Rehmat and his son Mushtaq.

The district and sessions judge in Kasur sentenced Aslam, Ashiq, Mohammad Fayyaz, Liaquat and Latif to life imprisonment and exonerated the rest of five co-accused. The conviction was challenged before the Lahore High Court, which also upheld the punishment.