To the gallows: Three sentenced to death in DSP’s murder case in Gilgit

Death warrant also issued for man convicted of killing a judge

GILGIT: At least three men, who were convicted of murdering a DSP and his subordinate in Diamer Valley, were sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Gilgit.

In addition to the death sentence, Khalilur Rehman, Shah Faisal and Abdul Hameed were fined Rs1 million each by Justice Raja Shahbaz Khan of the ATC.

Three other suspects in the case — Shifa, Amir Hamza and Mohibullah — are at large, but were sentenced in absentia. Orders were issued to arrest the suspects immediately.

“This high-profile case has finally subsided,” a lawyer said on Saturday, a day after the decision was taken.

In April 2013, DSP Attaullah and his subordinate Haleem were on their way to arrest suspected terrorists in Darel Valley when armed men ambushed them. The DSP and his subordinate died on the spot, while three others were injured.

Death warrant issued

In another high-profile murder case, an ATC issued a death warrant for the killer of Judge Jamid Alam Jadun.

Justice Jadun served in an ATC in Gilgit in 2006 when sectarian bloodshed plagued the whole region after the slaying of a prominent Shia cleric. Jadun was killed in an ambush at a park in Gilgit as he was out for his daily walk.

The ATC convicted Naveed Hussain for the murder of the judge and his appeals in higher courts were also rejected. “The supreme appellate and chief courts rejected his appeal against the ATC’s sentence,” said a lawyer who was in the loop of these developments.

Hussain is said to have been held in Adiala Jail for some time, “After the death warrant, he can be hanged at any time,” the lawyer said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2016.