FAISALABAD, June 11: Four gang-rape case convicts will be hanged in the local district jail on Tuesday (tomorrow). The convicts — Umer Hayat (32) and Mubarik Ali (28), residents of Chak 106-RB, Khurrianwala; Muhammad Ashraf (34) and Shahzad Ahmed (29) residents of Chak 134, Chak Jhumra— allegedly raped the daughter of Bashir Masih of Chak 144 RB, Chak Jhumra, in 1999.
The case was decided by a speedy court within a month. Convicts’ appeals were rejected by superior courts. In the meantime, the complainant pardoned the convicts.
At this stage their mercy plea was referred to the Federal Shariat Court which rejected the pardon and asked for the execution. Talking to newsmen, the convicts said that they had been framed in the case by a ‘Chaudhry’ of Chak Jhumra over a property dispute and appealed to the President to come to their rescue. They also sought the help of human rights bodies.