KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has commuted the death penalty of Aijaz Badshah to life imprisonment in a case involving the murder of his two brothers-in-law. A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Omar Sial, reviewed the case and noted significant lapses in the investigation that influenced their decision.
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The bench observed that testimonies of two female eyewitnesses, the mother and sister of the deceased, were confidence-inspiring. However, the investigating officer (IO) recorded their statements only after a month and failed to record the testimony of the injured Abid, the best possible witness, before his death.
Sessions Court had sentenced Aijaz to death in May last year for killing Iftikhar and Abid at his Keamari residence in October 2020. Challenging this order, the appellant argued that the killings were in self-defense, claiming the brothers came to harm him and his wife after he married their sister against the family’s will. However, he produced no witnesses to support this claim.
The bench also raised concerns over the handling of forensic evidence. Blood stains were present at the crime scene, but the IO testified that collection was impossible, reflecting alarming inadequacies in investigative expertise. Bullet casings recovered at the scene were later matched to Aijaz’s pistol, supporting the prosecution’s case.
According to the prosecution, complainant Azam Khan’s sister Bushra had married Aijaz in 2019. On October 16, 2020, his mother and another sister went to Bushra’s home but were not allowed inside, prompting her brothers to accompany them. A scuffle ensued, during which Aijaz was injured and opened fire, killing Iftikhar instantly and injuring Abid, who died a month later.
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The court noted that the shooting was sudden and not premeditated, occurring in the heat of the moment. The High Court’s commutation reflects both the investigative lapses and the circumstances surrounding the incident.