Verdict announced: Man sentenced to life for murdering wife

Muhammad Azam murdered his wife Mehnaz Akhtar over a family dispute in 2015

FAISALABAD: A man was awarded a life term in a murder case on Tuesday.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Rana Shaukat Ali Khan handed down the life sentence with a fine of Rs100,000 to an accused for killing his wife in the precincts of Millat Town police station. The prosecution told the court Muhammad Azam, a resident of Nishatabad, had murdered his wife Mehnaz Akhtar over a family dispute in 2015. After examining the evidence and hearing the witnesses, the judge awarded life imprisonment to Azam.

In another case, Additional Sessions Judge Amjad Nazeer Chaudhry issued arrest warrants for Madina Town superintendent of police and Millat Town station house officer over noncompliance of court orders.

The judge summoned the police officials repeatedly to submit the medical examination report in a pending Hudood case, but they failed to comply with the court orders. The court directed Faisalabad city police officer to arrest both officials and ensure their appearance before the court on November 8, 2016.

Meanwhile, Additional Sessions Judge Arif Hameed Sheikh acquitted two accused in a murder case registered by the Millat Town police station.      Prosecution told the court the police had booked Muhammad Yaqoob and Ansar Ali on charges of killing Iftikhar Ahmad over a property dispute. However, the court acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence.

Earlier in 2016, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Raja Perveez Akhtar awarded capital punishment on two counts to a man he convicted of murder in the district. Prosecution said Nasir Hussain, a resident of Ahmadpur Sial, had beaten his wife after an argument, doused her with petrol and set her alight.

They said the woman was taken to a hospital where she died. Hussain was arrested and confessed to killing his wife during the trial. After hearing the witnesses and examining the evidence, the judge awarded death penalty on two counts to Hussain.

The court awarded death penalty under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and imposed a fine of Rs500,000 on the convict. The court also awarded capital punishment under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and fined the convict Rs500,000. The judge also awarded him life imprisonment under Section 336 of the PPC.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2016.