HYDERABAD: A convict of rape and murder was hanged till death in the Hyderabad Central Prison on Tuesday morning.

Sikandar Joyo was found guilty of killing a minor girl after subjecting her to criminal assault in 2000.

It was the second hanging at the prison after 2015, when two convicts of PIA plane hijacking case were hanged.

The third additional district and sessions judge had issued black warrants of Joyo after his mercy appeal was rejected by the president.

Heirs of the victim did not pardon him although Joyo’s family made their best efforts. Joyo’s family members met him in the prison over the last few days.

An FIR (56/2000) was registered against Joyo on Aug 17, 2000 under Sections 302, 10(3) Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979 and 201 of PPC on the complaint of the father of the eight-year-old victim.

The complainant stated that Joyo had subjected her to sexual assault, killer her and then threw the body into the fall regulator of a canal in Dadu. Joyo was sentenced to death on Sept 29, 2006 by the third additional judge.

The Federal Shariat Court rejected his appeal on Feb 14, 2008.

The Supreme Court dismissed his appeal on June 4, 2010 and a review petition on April 24, 2017.

The president turned down his mercy appeal on Oct 5, 2017.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2017