SAHIWAL: Anti-Terrorism Court Special Judge Ziaullah Khan on Wednesday handed down death sentence, life imprisonment and Rs500,000 fine to a man who threw acid on a married woman for refusing to have relations with him, resulting in her death.

According to the prosecution,on April 25, 2023, the convict subjected a married woman, Rubina Bibi (30) to acid attack in Amjad Colony, Qaboola in Arifwala tehsil. She suffered third-degree burns and was initially referred to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital and later to Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, where she succumbed to her acid burns on May 28, 2023.

Qabola police booked Shoukat and Ikram under sections 302, 336B and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, on a complaint filed by the victim’s husband, Noor Hasan, a salesman.

The court acquitted, however, acquitted the second suspect, Ikram, due to a lack of evidence.

The court directed that the Rs500,000 fine would be distributed among the legal heirs of Rubina Bibi. In case of non-compliance, Shoukat will have to undergo an additional six-month imprisonment. The court ordered that the confirmation of the death sentence is subject to the order of the Lahore High Court, for which a separate reference under section 374 of the CrPC shall be made.

ARRESTED: Ghala Mandi police claimed to have arrested two main suspects who allegedly shot at and critically injured two employees of a petrol pump over a parking issue, near the General Bus Stand.

The police charged Muhammad Naeem, Farukuh Mahmood, and seven unidentified individuals under sections 149, 148, and 324 of the PPC for shooting at petrol pump employees, Rizwan and Murtaza.

According to police sources, the firing incident occurred over parking of a car at the petrol pump. Eyewitnesses say that a suspect, Naeem exchanged words with Rizwan and Murtaza over the issue. Later, Naeem returned to the petrol pump with six motorcyclists and after resorting to aerial firing, shot the both employees, alleging they insulted him.

The injured men were shifted to the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital by a Rescue 1122 team.

Ghala Mandi police claimed to have arrested the two nominated suspects and started investigation.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024