Armed robbery: Afghan death row inmate’s sentence commuted to life term
He has been pardoned by the complainants but the offence is non-compoundable
PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
An Afghan citizen, earlier sentenced to death and 10 years imprisonment, has been acquitted of the offences under Section 302 (murder) and Section 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The life sentence, however, has been upheld under Section 394 (voluntarily injuring someone during robbery), as the offence is non-compoundable.
Saeed Muhammad had been arrested during an armed robbery at Muhammad Sharif’s house. Sharif had tried to resist but Saeed Muhammad had shot him and had injured his nephew. Shahdra Town police had registered an FIR against Saeed under Sections 302,393 (robbery attempt), 394 and 324 of the PPC. The convict had been sentenced to death under Section 302; life imprisonment and Rs50,000 fine under Section 394; and 10 years imprisonment and a Rs25,000 fine under Section 324.
Saeed Muhammad was scheduled to be hanged on June 17 but his execution was stayed because his relatives could not be tracked down. According to Rule 352 of the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978, it is imperative to inform the relatives of a prisoner about the time and date of execution. It is also a convict’s legal right to have a last meeting with his relatives, who may receive the body after execution.
He had been pardoned by the deceased’s relatives – Hanifa Bibi, the complainant and widow of the deceased, his nephew Hafiz Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, and his daughters Yasmin Shahid, Uzma Bibi and Saima Sharif. They had appeared in court to record their statement in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2015.
An Afghan citizen, earlier sentenced to death and 10 years imprisonment, has been acquitted of the offences under Section 302 (murder) and Section 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code. The life sentence, however, has been upheld under Section 394 (voluntarily injuring someone during robbery), as the offence is non-compoundable.
Saeed Muhammad had been arrested during an armed robbery at Muhammad Sharif’s house. Sharif had tried to resist but Saeed Muhammad had shot him and had injured his nephew. Shahdra Town police had registered an FIR against Saeed under Sections 302,393 (robbery attempt), 394 and 324 of the PPC. The convict had been sentenced to death under Section 302; life imprisonment and Rs50,000 fine under Section 394; and 10 years imprisonment and a Rs25,000 fine under Section 324.
Saeed Muhammad was scheduled to be hanged on June 17 but his execution was stayed because his relatives could not be tracked down. According to Rule 352 of the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978, it is imperative to inform the relatives of a prisoner about the time and date of execution. It is also a convict’s legal right to have a last meeting with his relatives, who may receive the body after execution.
He had been pardoned by the deceased’s relatives – Hanifa Bibi, the complainant and widow of the deceased, his nephew Hafiz Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, and his daughters Yasmin Shahid, Uzma Bibi and Saima Sharif. They had appeared in court to record their statement in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2015.