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20 suspected in 2014 Kot Radha Kishan lynching of Christian couple acquitted by ATC
An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday acquitted 20 people suspected of involvement in the lynching and burning alive of a Christian couple who were accused of blasphemy in Kot Radha Kishan in 2014.
Shahzad and Shama were burned alive in a brick kiln by a frenzied lynch mob ─ incited by announcements made from mosques in the area ─ ranging between 400-1,000 people for their alleged role in the desecration of the Holy Quran in Nov 2014. Both husband and wife were brick kiln workers, and the woman, a mother of three, was pregnant at the time. Police had registered a case against 660 villagers after the incident.
Read more: Tracing footsteps in Kot Radha Kishan
The court today acquitted 20 suspects, giving them the benefit of doubt. Among the 20, 15 people were identified as Faryad, Babar Ali, Islamuddin, Zulfiqar Ali, Arshad Ali, Jawed, Abid, Sabir, Muhammad Sharif, Sarfraz, Sultan, Aftab, Muhammad Ashraf, Abid Hasan, Asif and Owais.
The ATC in Nov 2016 sentenced five men to death on two counts for their involvement in the burning alive of Shahzad and Shama. Eight others were also charged with involvement in the lynching and sentenced to two years each in prison. In 2015, the ATC had indicted 106 suspected in the lynching.
Blasphemy is a hugely sensitive issue in Pakistan, with even unproven allegations often prompting mob violence. Anyone convicted, or even just accused, of insulting Islam, risks a violent and bloody death at the hands of vigilantes.
Comments (68) Closed
Is ATC blind?
Benefit of doubt? If everyone in the mob was innocent then who killed them in that grossly medieval way? Where is justice?
Pakistan need to remove the blasphamony rule. Otherwise pakistan is destined to be doomed.
This is the time for Supreme Court to intervene !
Wow, this is the justice in Pakistan....
This is not right, this is just not right, why is this judicial system so broken, two people were burned alive and the mob goes free. Unacceptable. Laws have to be fixed to avoid these acquittals. But who is going to fix the law, all lawmakers are busy in making money for next election cycle.
How many more got away with the Murder!!! Looks like the Police have covered their tracks shameful!!!!
Nice to see court system working swiftly. Five people where the crime was proven were given swift and harsh sentences and others where the crime could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt were acquitted.
I’m written this for those would just read the headline and jump on the band wagon!
very poor justice system..
Not surprised. Pakistan lives in the past, way way past the civilization. RIP the murdered souls.
This is pathetic. Two innocent ppl were burnt alive and no one is held responsible. Police and prosecutors should be held accountable for gross misconduct for not presenting enough evidence. If there was any witnesses intimidation, police should be still held responsible and case must be retried. So sad!
Wow, what kind of evidence was presented to the court? Either the prosecution was bribed, incompetent and intimidated or the judge was biased. This country is fast becoming as un islamic as can be...... sadly.
shame on Pakistan.it gives bad impression to already bad image of the country.
Almighty give peace to their families so hurtful to read this. No faith is higher than humanity.
Shame. Try these lynchers in Military court. Its a blatant example of injustice. Strongly condemn it.
This is shocking, ls there another law for those who kill minorities. CJP should take notice
Those who witness this barbaric act and did nothing are the same as those five men who are sentenced to death by the court.
Shame on Pakistan
I would not comment on court's decision, but blasphemy laws in Pakistan have to be amended and people need educating about them.
A sad day for Pakistan. A heinous crime committed publicly could not lead to conviction and deserved punishment. Does the justice system realize its repercussions?
@Anonymous : Do you think anything will change in Pakistan? The country, in some respects, is out of control.
CJP requested to take notice
ATC only find 5 out of 106 indicted in a mob of over 600 ?
People need to be realistic. It is always difficult to prosecute mob or riot based violence and crime due to allot of legal technicality... which allot of people including lawyers and judges fail to fully understand and implement. Secondly the issue here is not the justice system... the issue here is our culture and belief system! Most Pakistanis are raised with the values that family, traditions and believes is above any kind of law and authority. You dont have to look far just look at how an average Pakistani drives a car or bike on street. How an average Pakistani behaves when they are in congestion situation be it shop, school, office, bank etc... Fixing these issue is not a 1 or 2 days thing, it will take generations to fix these behaviors. So good luck with that!
This also speaks a lot about two provincial Police Departments. Nearly 30 people were arrested by KPK Police. On the contrary Punjab Police does not operate without direct instructions from Rana Sana and Shabaz Sharif.
Pakistan Zindabad!
You have ser them free,they will kill again.
Blasphemy Law is a dangerous weapon can be used against anyone at any place for their personal vendetta or settle their personal disputes. Innocent people are dying everyday and Its not helping Islam. Need to be removed.
This is what happens when ppl don't read the news and start to comment after reading the headline. The ATac has already handed down death sentences to some of the culprits, these were the ones whose involvement cannot be ascertained. Please people read the news before commenting!
Good Job ATC.
Oh. This is beyond grief. How does such shameful acts still have place in civil societies. Pakistan needs to do something, to prevent this from happening again. I wish the culprits will be punished. If not here, then up there.
Is this one more justice denied? Justice already delayed.
Shame on ATC
Entire mob should be punished. Pakistan must take action against extremists otherwise I am afraid that there will be very dark side them. All minorities should be protected against the extremists.
The law enforcement should act before such crimes happen. On top of all this educating the masses across the country should be given the highest priority so that such events do not happen. Education should be focused on respect of each other and that includes the non-Muslim community in the country to avoid acts that can result in clash of religions and subsequent violence.
Didnt you all read? Five mens have already been given death sentence. What more do you expect to proof that we are politically correct
This will not provide justice to the couple Nobody is being held responsible for this gruesome murder
Have the highest respect for dawn for publishing such reports
Will the sentence ever be carried out or will those 5 charged eventually acquitted?
Yesterday beef eater killers got life time in India including that of bjp person.
Just think, she had 3 very young kids (now orphans) and had a fourth one on the way, and then she was burnt alive with her husband. Feel the pain?
The other day 11 men in India were sentenced to life imprisonment for a similar crime.
How many more acquittals of murderers will it take to eliminate Blasphem Laws?
Guys, read the news. 5 criminals were sentenced to death. Others were not involved directly in killing this hapless couple and thus were released by ATC. Do you also like to give death penalty to folks not associated with the murder?
Imagine other countries applying the same rule to us and or brothers in faith abroad. Killing is a sin, killing a pregnant woman, I am lost with words. RIP
Excellent decision! ATC has done good work.
Nobody is paying attention to strenghtening prosecution department.....all this government did was change uniform....
ATC is unforgiving and harshly just. So if these 20 are acquited, there must be a reason. However, those convicted must pay the ultimate price and soonest. Let it be well advertised so that no other such incidence takes place.The families of those lynched, specially the children must be compensated financially and generously from the pockets of all those accused directly or indirectly.
Demand justice for the minorities. All humans must be treated equally.
Pathetic state of affairs.
@N2 thank you
Sad day for Pakistan.
Before everybody jumps to conclusion, ATC has convicted the culprits...
The ATC in Nov 2016 sentenced five men to death on two counts for their involvement in the burning alive of Shahzad and Shama. Eight others were also charged with involvement in the lynching and sentenced to two years each in prison.
Outrageous!
Weren't five people sentenced to death by the ATC in 2016?
seriously insane....
@Raj patel Is that a comparison?? Really??
@N2 Have you read the article yourself??
@TI did you not read ? 5 people were given death sentences. You just read the headline.
a crime was committed, a mob was present, but nobody was the criminal, so nobody is punished ... the couple lynched themselves ....
What do you expect? No one has ever been punished for taking law in their hands in name of blasphemy.
Read the full version then comment. five people have been punished
How many people who are making comments actually even remembered this incident before this news came out? How many people knew that there was an ongoing trial? Knee jerk reaction unfortunately is common. If we really cared that much , we should have a lot more involvement in this case. Having said that, the Justice is still not served and it should not end here!
Where is the justice in this case?
not surprised.
do blasphemy law equally applies to Muslims also who insults other religions?
When will Pakistan come out of 18th century??
How cruel act!!! She was pregnant!!! Are they no human!!!