LAHORE:
401. This is the number of days the family of Mughees and Muneeb Butt, brothers murdered by a mob in Sialkot, had to wait for justice. Their ordeal ended on Tuesday night when the Anti-Terrorism Court Gujranwala (ATC) issued its verdict, sentencing seven people to death, six to life in prison, and giving all the policemen involved in the incident three-year terms.
“This isn’t a day of happiness. This is a sad day for us that shows how our society is deteriorating morally,” Khwaja Anwar, 87-year-old grandfather of the victims, told The Express Tribune. “My grandsons were not robbers. Punishment to those who lynched them publicly will not bring my grandsons back but this will restore people’s faith in the judiciary and legal system.”
The ATC Judge Mushtaq Gondal found 10 policemen, including former DPO Waqar Chohan, guilty. Five of the accused were acquitted by the court. In total 28 people were accused in the case.
(Read: One year after Sialkot lynching - After Sarfraz Shah verdict, hope for justice?)
On August 15, 2010, hundreds of people gathered in broad daylight in Buttran Wali, Sialkot, as Mughees and Muneeb were lynched, in full view of police officers who made no attempts to stop the murder. The dead bodies of the two brothers were dragged through the streets by the mob, who labelled them robbers. The bodies were then hanged against a water tank. The villagers were about to set the bodies on fire when family members of brothers reached the spot and took them home. Later, no police record was found of Mughees and Muneeb, who were both students.
“We had no enmity with anyone and we will not have enmity with anyone,” Khwaja Anwar said. Sajjad Butt, father of the brothers, said: “My sons died and nothing is going to bring them back. This decision however shows that sooner or later justice prevails”.
(Read: Justice pending)
“I am thankful to God that we got justice finally. It’s been a long and painful journey but now I am satisfied that I can face my nephews on Judgment Day,” Zarrar Butt, the boys’ uncle, told The Express Tribune in a choked voice. Khwaja Anwar spoke of the difficulties the family had encountered. “We have been facing threats to stop following this case up but God’s help kept us determined. Nobody from the village where my grandsons were lynched came to the witness box to speak about the truth but what cameras recorded showed reality to the whole world,” he said.
Dr Shakeel Thakur, who pleaded for the two brothers, said: “This will be a case of its own nature where courts relied on technology and footages of TV channels to bring the truth out. We are content with the decision; however we will appeal against those who have been acquitted and who have been awarded a brief sentence”.
After outraging the country, the case gathered legal momentum when the Supreme Court of Pakistan took suo motu notice of the incident. The lynching incident was also discussed on the floor of parliament and high officials visited the aggrieved family. At the time the government announced it would deal with the case in a matter of days. However, the final verdict was not delivered for more than a year.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (93)
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what is justice......"?>
Dear Allah, Thank you for your justice.
@ali? What? Did you just quote a line from U.S, Constitution? I hope we have one in our too.
Justice is being served but it should make us look like a crowd of blood thirsty cavemen. After all, it was the desire for blood & justice that wrongly killed those two innocents in the first place.
The news of hanging the murderers is encouraging. I want to know the date and time and place of the hanging. It should be made at the same place where the Hafiz brothers were mercilessly clubbed to death and hung by these merciless calous and shameless men or bettter ,in Islamabad infront of the Supreme Court.
By God if these are hung in public, no one will ever dare to take such an act in hand in this country.
Further more, it has been too long for the decision of the court to come. I say that it should be executed without delay.
Timur Shah
We should not forget - that there is a justice higher than that of a MAN...
Is this justice or revenge? If it is the latter, we are only slightly better than the culprits who, rightly or wrongly, believed that the the two brothers were murderers. (And yes, if they weren't, has there been a separate court case seeking to punish the 'true' murderers of the village boy?)
If this is justice, should not the supposed upholders of the law, who stood by and abetted the murders) be at least as seriously punished as those who who did the lynching?
If this is murder of the first degree, and the convicted thus meriting capital punishment, what was the motive? Was pre-meditation established?
Those of us willing to ignore these and other troubling questions may take some comfort in the so called "victory of justice", but that is only us telling ourselves that we could never be monsters like those cold-blooded murderers. This is rather convenient, as it keeps us dealing with the really tough question of what it is in our society that creates such monsters, or if indeed , their actions can be explained, even if never justified.
And most of all, the two brothers looked liked angels.
Please follow through with the verdict. The whole world is watching!
...as yet, this is a start, justice will only be done when its done i.e. when the convicted are hanged by their necks in the same streets where they murdered the boys!
I am so happy and thrilled to read this news. I hope and pray this is a lesson learned for our uncivilized society not to play god and take out their own verdicts. Our brothers were not muggers or looters.
i was happy to hear justice was done. The government and police in pakistan should be ashamed. if it was up to me i would have hung the lot of em instantly.. Appeal will not help them inshalla. Allah is all seeing and all hearing
Finally justice!!!
@Naveed: As if they are not already out there running around?
Justice do take time, violance don't. We must raise voice against violance anywhere, who knows our effort will save the life of our loved-one one day. Don't be silent if the victim of cruelty is not your friend or reletive. That was the lesson God was teaching us by the ordeal. Remember: "lesson not learned" will be repeated. Can you afford that now?
You have a group of people, who killed two young men, in broad day light, in public, in front of the cops, in a ruthless manner...
And you have a group of people, here on the tribune website, commenting, thanking Allah for the death sentances, asking for a public hanging.
You all are no differnt from one another, all you do is take your frustrations of life out on others and on society. Look at your selves in the mirror hard one day, and perhaps repeat the comments you have posted here so you can see your inhuman face live.
All the same, all alike. Worthless.
The policemen got the amnesty and escaped from Death penalty because their judgment was made on on the basis of Police Act of Pakistan. but surely in the court of Almighty ALLAH their is only one Constitution which has only one Act in which a criminal deserve a punishment equal to the crime he/she committed and has no such amnesty act of prohibition.
Please continue your prayers for these innocent boys until the execution of justice is made. Because we all know our Judicial system, as there are many ways to avoid punishment.
if culprits go into the upper courts they should also be awarded death sentence to police officials inluding chohan.
@Anthony Permal......... go back and read my comments again ....I am afraid you didn't get what I was saying
Wrong thinking is spoiling our nation. People can not think deeply. There will not come psychology experts to teach and enlighten Pakistani nation. See the video so many people are witnessing that incident, many people are using stick to accomplish the job, there are two boys killed none has the sympathy of any one even those who killed them with out any mask and in the day light. What those boys had done so uncomfortable that people prefer to hang by the court but they took law in their hands. Just think people are left no choice...
Good new, but 3 years charges to security personal who present and didn't do any thing at the time of incident, is very low, court should given him at least 10 years punishment, these people really degrade Pakistan's image.
Actually the Policemen who were watching this barbarian act should have been hanged. Anyhow I agree with this judgment but would request those who matter in our governance to revisit the constitutional provisions so that all get same treatment for any crime.
The culprits should be hanged in public where the cime was committed. No mercy dr them and the town people. Shame on them.
@Mubbashir: Wait till verdicts of higher courts.Do not forget Mukhtara Mai case end.
I request all to hold on, the track record of appeal againt ATC in higher courts of appeal is quite alarming , JUST HOLD ON TILL THE FINAL VERDICT
Justice still to come !!! High Court, Supreme Court & finally president
All the culprits in this case should be hanged publicly. Court has given lesser punishment to the policemen. They should be hanged publicly as well.
let's see if the judjements will ever be implemeneted!!
the prosecution of a person will not justify the killing of two persons three persons will be killed in whole .............
Happy to see some kind of starting of justice system here in our country. Hope the same kind of justice system grow speedily. My wishes are with our justices system.
every should be killed who were involved thats would be the complete justice
@Fahad Raza: no every one should be killed that were involved
I was horrified when i saw the video of them being murdered. I really wish the courts could hand out similar sentences to all those involved in terrorism
@Nauman: Agreed, there are so many unanswered questions. The brutality of the villagers, who took the law into their own hands, got the proper punishment. The sentence given to the policemen also means that they will loose their jobs too. But what about the milkman and the boy who allegedly got killed by the bullets of these brothers??
@Nauman:
Uhhhh. The accused are on TV torturing two boys too death. There is no credible evidence linking the two with murder. The accused have no right (legal, moral or otherwise) to do what they did. I personally would prefer a short drop hanging where there necks dont break and they die through suffocation after 15-20 minutes. That is what they deserve.
I am disappointed to learn about the verdict. All police officers should have been lynched too. So sad.
Although the justice came very late but the media has played its vital role in this justice. we must support the court and media and request them please give some justice about the curreption in pakistan.
thanks to Almighty Allah.
@Umar:
There are no charges against the two boys, the only witnessess were fraudulent ones who came up to defend the real murdrers. the courts clarified that a long time ago. The two boys cannot and will not be called criminals. The only FIR registered against them was the fake murder robberry FIR by the SIalkot police after the two were killed to cover up this crime.
@dingling:
The public prosecutor clarified that the offence with which the police officers were charged had a maximum sentence of 3 years so neither they nor the judges could have done anything more.
The riddle remains unfolded. Who killed the village boy and injured other? What were these brothers doing at dawn in that village which is far away from their home? If playing cricket, where is the rest of team? or was it possible to play cricket in muddy grounds after the rain? Did anybody console the family of village boy and probe his murder? Why the police did not interfear? was there any personal interest of police? We have seen many instances when snatchers or robbers are stabbed to death or bodies set on fire in Karachi, Faisalabad etc but no media trial in those cases. As appeared in the news that nobody from the village came in the witness box and the trial is bsed on media footage and other videos, it seems that benifit will be given to accused in appeal stages otherwise it will set a new precedence.
Awesome! Alhumdullilah!
All of the culprits should be hanged till death in Public. Against the same Water Tank where the mob hung the 2 brothers. It would definitely a shock for audience and will definitely win faith in judiciary.
Yes its inhumane but its nothing to what they did to 2 brothers. This verdict and this punishment should become an eye opener for everyone and the best way to do it is to hang them in public.
That brings peace to my soul. Finally!
Why not the DPO and other policemen were given the death sentence, because they were fully involved in the murder case of these two innocent brothers. these peoples deserve the same punishment what they gave these two brother in same manner…and hang them alive till they dead…alongwith the police officials they support them
@Mariam b........on the likes of Norway where fanatics like Brezevik can go on a rampage and kill hundreds of innocent people?......he knew it all the way that no matter what....he wont be hanged since there is no capital punishment in Norway. you imagine if we abolish that here as well....there will hundreds of religious fanatics running around on streets shooting the other sect.....dnt follow the west blind folded....
I believe the police officers involved (in the sense that they were mere spectators of the whole incident) should have been given harsher punishments! They are trained for such circumstances and they are the authority to keep law and order in any place!
Capital Punishment must come to an end, regardless of crime comitted
now carry it out! just you wait they will get off on appeal
I could not believe at first; I thought it was too good to be true. Thanks to Allah, the verdict is fair, though the police officials deserved much more! Lets hope the death sentence is carried out ASAP!
Why we love to see DAKOOOS in Karachi or Faisalabad to be killed by public? Where our humanity gone at that time? Where is JUSTICE for Wazirstan, Quetta and Karachi's boys? I have seen Kamran Shahid's program at Express, he showed a video of a bearded person and calling these boys a DAKOOO; ON QURAN. So what went wrong with this if they killed an innocent and robbed many and then got killed by public?
We appreciate courts when they do such emotional decisions.
Be RATIONAL, call spade a spade.
My views are that boys did wrong but public had no authority to kill any one in the name of dacaits wether they are in Karachi or Faisalabad.
Hang them in public so that the other corrupts can learn a lesson.
Justice prevails
INSHALLAH the sentences will be carried out speedily. Justice delayed is justice denied. What was the crime of these two brothers? They were pious, they were returning from Fajr prayers and living in a mohalla led by ignorant locals who had accused them of being robbers. And the cops.......the less said about them the better.
May ALLMIGHTY ALLAH give HIS compassion and solace to the bereaved mother and give the departed souls eternal peace in Jannatul Firdous. Ameen.
Salams to Pakistan.
Alhumdolilah !!!!!!!
@Fahad: Justice is never served in Pakistan. these are just illusions, reality we all will see.
A Good news from Pakistan!
@sami: Justice is not easy job takes time and am sure if the same case was heard in British / American or any other western court, would have taken much more time then taken by Pakistani court. Question now is execution of justice and I don't think will happen in Pakistan.
Finally!
Mughees & Muneeb's Murder This Verdict Gave The People Of Pakistan A Sense Of Relief That Everything Is Not Lost In Pakistan . I Salute The Gujranwala Anti Terrorism Court .
And Justice for All...Allah hu Akbar...
They should be hanged in public
Policemen present at scene were real culprit. If they had acted according to law, so many lives would have been saved. Its a lesson to those who take law in their hand. The day is in sight when terrorists and their supporters face the consequences of their actions.
@Jameel:
"Jamaat Islami guys got the justice. Let’s hope those that have claims against Jamaat Islami including PU students also get justice".
This case had nothing to do with whether they were Jamaat-e-Islami or not. Please do not confuse issues.
Now i hope that high court and supreme court also refuse their Apil against death sentence.
I agree with the verdict 100%. I now trust our courts.
Those who saw the videos will be happy to see justice done.
@Jameel: Jammat e Islami and his people has never done this type of crime this was something inhuman it is not the moment to score the number but to hail the court which has given the verdict and also time to thanks to Chief justice of Pakistan.Unfortunately all of our liberal fascists are suffering from JAMMAT PHOBIA i wish u could ever come out of this and also remember the sacrifices JAMMAT has made for this country during 1971 war and in KASHMIR.And also remember the services JAMMAT has provided to the victims of flood and earthquake and IDPs of Sawat and Wana operations. I CAN WRITE HUNDREDS OF PAGES FOR THE SERVICES JAMMAT HAS GIVE TO THIS NATION BUT DUE TO TIME AND SPACE CONTRAST I M LEAVING HERE.
Justice will only be truly served when we actually witness the hanging of those awarded the death sentence in this case and the Karachi rangers incident, otherwise these are just empty verdicts......
Good riddance.
Finallyyyy.. Shuker Elhamdolillah!! this was a long awaited justice to be done.. No one can take anybodys life in their hands.. that is pure evil trying to play IM GOD.. Justice had to be done.... We DO NOT deserve to celebrate EID if we cant respect and understand the meaning of the Holy month of Ramadan, the month of Prayers, Peace, forgiveness, patience, love and tolerance.... Our EID will only be on the day when QASAS is ruled out for the heartless, cold blooded killers of these innocent boys.... Thank you Allah for this blessed move towards justice and inshaAllah may these ruthless people rot in hell.. Without any question or doubts, Allah is the only one who gives the best justice and revenge.. God Bless..
I am against the death penalty myself. However, if there is ever a case for death penalty this might be one!
Thank god justice is done ....I wish these tragedies never ever happen again ...
Those against death-penalty are not allowed to comment here!
justice atlast but i think the police officers involved should have been given more tougher sentences rather than three years
I welcome the judgment announced by the honourbale court.
The court has again set the example that no one in the country is above the law.
Few murderers have been awarded four times death sentence, people of Pakistan would like to witness the death sentence of all the murderers.
Though no condemned prisoner has been executed since Mr. Zardari has become President of Pakistan, I would request Mr. Zardari not to pardon these brutal killers who have not only taken the lives of the innocent brothers but have also earned bad name for the country.
Let us keep our fingers cross and wait for the execution of the murderers by the jail authorities.
Allah is the greatest and it is Allah alone who got the family of these boys justice. We know our leaders and particularly PML (N) tried to stop justice from being done. Shame on all our leaders, police officers and the people of our country for allowing these boys to die.
The policemen should be hung or imprisoned for life
Justice has been served!!!
While this is excellent news, I really hope the higher courts do not revoke the decision.
Jamaat Islami guys got the justice. Let’s hope those that have claims against Jamaat Islami including PU students also get justice.
Justice has been DONE, Alhumdullilah ..
Grieved family would at last be at peace,but these butchers should be lynched the same way they martyred the two brothers
It took the courts one year to realize they need to be hanged!
Justice has been done.
Some justice at least!!!