HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) Hyderabad circuit on Wednesday upheld the death sentence awarded to an accused by a sessions judge in a multiple murder case of 2002.

Appellant Mohammad Ish­aq was tried by the sessions judge of Mirpurkhas in the murder case of five persons over property in 2002. The case was lodged against him on the complaint of Ameen Pan­hwar.

He claimed that on Sept 22, 2002, Mohammad Ishaq, who wanted to usurp the agricultural land of Ghulam Hyder Panhwar, had opened fire at Ghulam Hyder, 70, and his sons Mohammad Azam, 5; Mohammad Alam, 9; Mohammad Nazim, 4, and wife Sahib Khatoon, 30. Sahib Khatoon and Moham­mad Alam were taken to a hospital in critical condition while the three others died instantly. She and her son died later in the hospital.

The sessions court of Mirpurkhas on March 27, 2013, sentenced Mohammad Ishaq Panhwar to death and bound him to pay compensation of Rs200,000 to the heirs of the deceased against each murder.

In case of default of payment, he would have to undergo additional six months in prison.

The bench, comprising Justice Naimatullah Phul­poto and Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha, while upholding the trial court’s verdict, observed that the prosecution had proved its case against the appellant beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court observed: “This is a case of extreme brutality. He [appellant] shows no remorse or regret for his actions and as such we consider that under such circumstances five separate death penalties handed down to him by the trial court should each be confirmed and accordingly we confirm the same.”

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2017