MULTAN, Feb 24: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday handed down death sentence on three counts to a man in a double murder case. Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Ameer Khan of the Multan ATC-2 also awarded an overall rigorous imprisonment of 16 years to convict Muhammad Zafar, besides imposing a fine of Rs 0.8 million. In case of default, he will have to undergo another term of rigorous imprisonment for three years.

According to the prosecution, Muhammad Zafar and his accomplice Shahid Habib had sprinkled acid on a trader, Daud Aziz Saddiqi, and his family in July 2002 when they were asleep in the courtyard of their house in New Multan area. Daud Aziz, his wife, teenage daughter Rabia and three-year-old grand daughter Khaula suffered burns.

Khaula succumbed to her wounds after a week at the Nishter Hospital while her aunt Rabia passed away after remaining under treatment for a month.

In the FIR lodged with the New Multan police station, the victim family had alleged that accused Zafar committed the crime to exact revenge as they had turned down Rabia’s engagement with his son.

Initially, the attitude of the police investigators was dubious and due to this reason the victim family had to stage protests demonstrations on several occasions in pursuit of justice. Later, the police completed the challan in the case and submitted it to the ATC for speedy trial.

The ATC, however, took 40 months to pass judgment on the case. Accused Shahid was acquitted for want of evidence against him. — Correspondent