Convict in Wali Khan Babar murder appeals against death sentence

Published April 14, 2015
Faisal Mota was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court in absentia on March 1 2014.
Faisal Mota was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court in absentia on March 1 2014.

KARACHI: Convicted murderer Faisal Mehmood, alias Faisal Mota, who was sentenced to death for the murder of journalist Wali Khan Babar, submitted an appeal to challenge his death sentence on Tuesday at the Sindh High Court (SHC).

Faisal Mota was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in absentia on March 1 2014.

The convict's counsel Advocate Aamir Masoob Qureshi today presented the stance in the application that since the death sentence was awarded in absentia, the court must declare it illegal. Qureshi added that according to Articles 21-L and 31-A of the Anti Terrorism Act 1997, a death sentence cannot be awarded in absentia.

The advocate also added that when a punishment is awarded in absentia, the convict must refer to the trial court according to Article 19(12). However, his client was unable to refer to the ATC in Kandhkot — where the sentence was announced — because the records of the case were at the SHC.

Therefore, the court must dismiss Mota's death penalty and send the case for a re-trial, Qureshi further added in the application.

The application was submitted at a SHC registry, which will scrutinise the appeal before presenting it before a bench.

Know more: Rangers raid MQM HQ in Karachi, detain member of Rabita Committee

Mota, said to be a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was arrested and detained last month in Karachi after a raid by Rangers at the MQM's headquarters.

On January 13, 2011, GeoNews journalist Wali Khan Babar was going home from his office when he was shot dead in Liaquatabad, Karachi.

Journalists had staged protests and rallies all across the country against the brutal murder. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) had decided to hoist black flags at the offices of Union of Journalists, media centers, press clubs to expresses their resentment over the tragic death.

An ATC had indicted five men over the murder — including Faisal Mota, Syed Mohammad Ali Rizvi, Shahrukh alias Mani, Naveed alias Polka and Shakil alias Malik.

Opinion

Editorial

CPEC slowdown
Updated 09 Dec, 2024

CPEC slowdown

Current CPEC slowdown doesn't mean China has lost interest in the connectivity project or in Pakistan.
Madressah bill
09 Dec, 2024

Madressah bill

A CONTROVERSY has been brewing over the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, with the JUI-F slamming ...
Protecting varsities
09 Dec, 2024

Protecting varsities

THE recent proposal by the Sindh cabinet to shoehorn in non-PhD bureaucrats as vice chancellors has sparked concern...
Stirring trouble
Updated 08 Dec, 2024

Stirring trouble

The demands put forth this time are simple and doable at little political cost.
Unfairness in cricket
08 Dec, 2024

Unfairness in cricket

HOPES that cricketing ties between Pakistan and India would be strengthened by the latter team’s visit across the...
Syria rebel advance
08 Dec, 2024

Syria rebel advance

CITY after city in Syria is falling into rebel hands as Bashar al-Assad’s government looks increasingly vulnerable...