LHC upholds death sentences in Motorway gang-rape case

LAHORE, Jun 03 (APP): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday upheld the death sentences awarded to two convicts, Abid Malhi and Shafqat Baga, in the high-profile motorway gang-rape case, dismissing their appeals against the anti-terrorism court’s verdict.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa announced the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. The court maintained the death penalties awarded by the ATC and also upheld all other sentences handed down to the convicts.

During the proceedings, counsel for the appellants argued that the trial court had failed to properly evaluate the facts and had not adequately considered the defence’s stance. He requested the court to set aside the death sentences and order the release of the convicts.

However, Prosecutor Raheela Shahid opposed the appeals, contending that the ATC had delivered a lawful and merit-based judgment. She maintained that substantial evidence existed against both convicts and urged the court to dismiss the appeals.

According to case records, an FIR was registered at Gujjarpura Police Station, Lahore, on September 9, 2020. Subsequently, Anti-Terrorism Court No. 1 Lahore sentenced both men to death on March 20, 2021, for rape.

The trial court had also awarded the convicts 14 years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs250,000 each for robbery. They were further sentenced to life imprisonment for abducting the victim’s children and five years’ imprisonment for damaging her vehicle.

The convicts had challenged the ATC verdict before the Lahore High Court on March 25, 2021.