KARACHI, Jan 15: A full bench of the Federal Shariat Court, comprising Chief Justice Chudhary Ejaz Yousuf, Justice Dr. Fida Mohammad Khan and Justice S.A Rabbani, dismissed an appeal of two boys in a rape case , but modified their rigorous imprisonment into simple jail term.

Aqeel Ahmed, 15, and Shakeel Ahmed, 13, were sentenced to five years rigorous jail term by the Additional District and Session Court Shikarpur on May 29. They were prosecuted on charge of committing rape with a minor girl, Sambreena, 9, on June 14, 2001, in limits of Lakhi gate police station Shikarpur.

The court, after hearing arguments of counsel, held that trial court rightly convicted the appellants in the said case and maintained their sentence but modified their rigorous imprisonment into simple jail term. Complainant's side was represented by Maula Bux Bhatti, advocate, AAG Arshad Lodhi for state while Fareed Dayo appeared for the appellants. -PPI