Capital punishment: Two awarded death penalty

FAISALABAD:

 Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Yaqub on Wednesday awarded the death penalty to two men accused of killing two people over a longstanding personal enmity.

The judge also imprisoned another accused for life. The prosecution told the court that Muhammad Khalid, Muhammad Riaz and Sultan had killed Muhammad Riaz and Muhammad Nawaz in Nishatabad area to settle scores.  A case regarding the killings was registered by Nishatabad police. The judge awarded the death penalty to Khalid and Riaz and imprisoned Sultan for life under Section-302-B of the Pakistan Penal Code following the conclusion of arguments. All the men were also directed to pay Rs50,000 each to the legal heirs of those killed.

Separately, an additional judge awarded the death penalty to a man accused of killing a woman.  Convict Javaid Butt had killed Saleema Bibi in Rail Bazaar area. Butt was also instructed to pay Rs200,000 to the family of the deceased.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2015.