PESHAWAR, Jan 24: While allowing an appeal against acquittal, the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday awarded death sentence to an accused on two counts in a double-murder case. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Ijazul Hassan and Justice Fazlur Rehman after hearing arguments of the prosecution and defence counsels sentenced Dost Muhammad to death. He was charged with committing murder of two persons in Sherpao bazaar, Charsadda district a few years ago.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs200,000 on the convict. The money, if recovered, will be paid to the heirs of the deceased in equal proportion. In case of default, the convict would further undergo six months simple imprisonments.

Before announcement of the verdict, the judges inquired about the accused and were informed by a police official that he had fled away from the court premises. The bench, besides awarding him capital punishment, also issued perpetual non-bailable warrants for the arrest of convict Dost Muhammad.

Khawaja Muhammad Khan Ghara and Asadullah Khan Chamkani, appearing as prosecutors, submitted that the accused had gunned down Hayatullah and Shah Faisal on June 6, 1996 and there was sufficient material on record to connect him with this crime.

They argued that testimony of the eye witnesses and medical reports established involvement of the respondent (convict) in this crime. They prayed the court to set aside verdict of the trial court and award maximum punishment to the respondent.—APP