Motorway gang rape convicts appeal sentences in LHC

LAHORE: A two-member bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) headed by Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz on Tuesday issued notices to the state on appeals filed by the prime culprit in motorway gang rape case Abid Ali and his co-accused.

An anti-terrorism court on March 20 had handed down a death sentence to Abid Ali, alias Malhi, and Shafqat Ali, alias Bagga, besides life imprisonment and multiple jail terms on charges of gang-raping a woman on the motorway in front of her two children. They have now appealed the decision before LHC.

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They argued that the trial court announced the impugned verdict against the facts and law applicable to the case. The convicts were not nominated in the FIR and the description mentioned in the FIR was altogether different from the physical features and age of the appellants, they added.

They contend that it is an established principle of law that an accused is entitled to every little doubt and in this case, so many infirmities have been found that create doubts on the prosecution’s story. It has been argued that the judgment by the trial court is harsh and against the settled principles of law.

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The appellants asked the court to allow the appeals, set aside their conviction, and acquit them of the charges.

Gujjarpura police had lodged the FIR on Sept 9, 2020, under sections 365-A, 392, 376 (ii), 427. 201,34, 337-L2, 337-F1 of the PPC and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.

After hearing initial arguments, the court issued notice to the state and the complainant of the case.