PESHAWAR, March 31: The Peshawar High Court on Friday enhanced the sentence of a person convicted by a trial court of assaulting and injuring his wife. Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan enhanced the prison term of Harris Khan from two to five years and compensation to be paid by him from Rs5,000 to Rs15,000.

The court accepted a revision petition filed by Ms Bukhtroza requesting the high court to enhance her husband’s sentence as the trial court had awarded him minimum sentence. After the high court’s verdict the convict was arrested by the police.

The convict was also charged by his wife with forcing her into prostitution. She stated that he was a pickpocket and a small-time robber.

The petitioner is currently residing in the local darul aman (shelter home) along with her three-year-old son as they have no relatives to look after them.

The FIR of the case was registered at the Yakatooth police station under sections 324 and 337(F) of the Pakistan Penal Code on October 21, 2002 after the convict opened fire on his wife, critically injuring her.

An additional district and sessions judge had convicted him on December 17, 2004, and sentenced him to a two-year rigorous imprisonment with compensation of Rs5,000 to be paid to the woman.

The convict completed his prison term in February 2005 and was freed from prison. Advocate Mahmood Alam of the Voice of Prisoners who appeared for the woman, said that the convict was involved in a heinous crime and the trial court had adopted a lenient view towards him.

The 23-year-old woman stated that her husband used to pick pockets during the summer and in winter he along with some of his companions committed robberies as it was difficult for him to pick pockets in winter due to people wearing warm clothes, including sweaters and jackets.

She said that her husband also used to bring strangers home and forced her into prostitution, and added that on the day of committing a robbery her husband always asked her to remain awake as she had to serve both him as well as his companions.

The petitioner said that she often resisted the immoral demands of her husband and asked him to adopt a noble profession, and added that on her resistance her husband had severely beaten her on various occasions and had also cut her hair in the last incident.

She said that on the night of her injury incident, her husband asked her to remain awake saying that he would go for committing a robbery at 3:00am, and added that when she tried to stop him he became infuriated and opened fire on her, injuring her critically.