The Shariat Appellate Bench of the Supreme Court has rejected an appeal against the death sentence of a convict involved in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Karachi’s Landhi area, while upholding the verdicts of the trial court and the High Court.
A five-member Shariat Appellate Bench, headed by Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, heard the appeal. Justice Shahzad Ahmed Malik remarked that an 11-year-old girl was subjected to rape and subsequently murdered. The prosecution counsel informed the court that the convict was a friend of the victim’s father. Upon this, Justice Shahzad Ahmed Malik remarked that the culprit probably thought no one would ever suspect him.
During the hearing, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail shared that he once visited the Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory, where he learned about a murder case that triggered protests; however, the person shouting the loudest in the procession ultimately turned out to be the accused. He added that Allah is the dispenser of justice and the rightful person receives justice in the end. Justice Shahzad Ahmed Malik stated that he too had witnessed an incident where the victim’s friends attended the funeral and subsequent prayers, only for it to be revealed later that they were the killers.
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail observed that a murder can be committed with a single bullet, yet their duty as judges is not to be emotional, but to deliver verdicts in accordance with the law. Justice Shahzad Ahmed Malik noted that a young girl was subjected to extreme brutality in this case, prompting Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail to remark, “If capital punishment is not awarded in this case, then in which case should it be?”