QUETTA: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday awarded the death sentence and a fine of two million rupees to Junaid Shahzad for rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl.

Justice Ghulam Siddique announced the verdict after hearing the case. He also announced four-year imprisonment for the culprit.

The parents of the girl were present in court along with a large number of human rights activists, members of civil society and political leaders when the ATC judge announced the judgement.

The girl, who lived with her parents in PSP quarters, had gone missing in November 2014 and her body was later found in a garbage can. Police then arrested Junaid Shahzad, who was a resident of the same area, in connection with her murder.

During interrogation, the accused confessed that he had abducted the girl when she was playing outside her house and then took her to his place where he murdered the girl after raping her.

Police submitted the challan of the case in the ATC, Quetta. The hearing of the case continued for almost two years till the verdict was announced on March 20.

The parents of the minor girl expressed their satisfaction over the verdict and said: “While we lost our innocent girl we got relief as justice was served by the court.” They thanked the media, members of civil society and political parties for taking up the case and extending their help and cooperation to the grieved family.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2018