ISLAMABAD: An additional sessions judge in Islamabad-West on Wednesday handed down a capital punishment to former superintendent of Islamabad Police and life imprisonment to two others in a year-old case involving the abduction and premeditated murder of a young man, Hamza Khan.

The verdict, announced by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, found ex-SP Syed Arif Hussain Shah, Saqlain Ali Shah, and Sabir Hussain Shah guilty of kidnapping Hamza Khan before killing him and subsequently attempting to conceal evidence in a case registered at Abapara police station on March 18, 2025.

According to the warrants of commitment issued by the court, theex-SP Syed Arif Hussain Shahwas sentenced to death under Section 302(b) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for committing Qatl-e-Amd (intentional murder) of Hamza Khan. The court ruled that he shall be hanged by the neck until death, subject to confirmation by the Islamabad High Court.

The two other convicts, Saqlain Ali Shah and Sabir Hussain Shah, were handed down life imprisonment under the same section for their role in the murder.

All three were also found guilty under Sections 364 and 201 of the PPC.

Each convict received ten years of rigorous imprisonment for kidnapping and seven years for destroying evidence, along with fines of Rs100,000 under each count. Non-payment of fines would result in an additional month of simple imprisonment.

The court further directed all three convicts to pay Rs1 million in compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased under Section 544-A of the CrPC. In case of default, each convict will serve an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

The court ordered that all sentences for each convict would run concurrently. The benefit of Section 382-B of the CrPC, which pertains to the set-off of detention periods already served, was also extended to the accused.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026