No justice for Shahzaib

The accused in a high-profile cold-blooded murder case of Shahzaib Khan, which once made headlines in Karachi, were finally released from jail after their bail applications were granted by court on Saturday. Shahrukh Jatoi, who belongs to a feudal family of Sindh along with his three friends killed Shahzaib Khan, media sciences student at Greenwich University, on the night of December 24, 2012 in Karachi’s DHA area. He was the only son of his parents and lost his life following a servant of Siraj Talpur, friend of Jatoi who attempted to harass his sister. Since day first, the Jatoi family used its influence declaring the boy minor and innocent. But the case gained momentum following the then chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Chaudhry, taking suo-motu action and Shahrukh Jatoi who was on a run was arrested. Later, an Anti-Terrorism Court finally sentenced Jatoi to death in 2013. Others accused in the case were awarded capital punishment and life imprisonment for their role in the crime.

Ironically, the parents, who had earlier announced that they would go to logical end of the case, struck a deal with the Jatoi family and withdrew from the case under the Qisas and Diyat law. According to media reports, the parents of Shahzaib Khan received Rs250 million and pardoned the killers. Though civil society made hue and cry over it demanding exemplary punishment to the accused, but no one heard it.

The Sindh High Court in its decision on November 27 set aside the capital punishment awarded to Jatoi and his accomplices and referred the case to a sessions court for retrial, which granted their bail. This case shows disparity between thousands of innocent people languishing in Sindh’s prisons who bear the brunt of police torture for years now, but Shahrukh Jatoi taking advantage of his rich family was referred to Jinnah hospital where his family donated funds to jails and hospital authorities for a luxury room renovated for him. He enjoyed all the facility at the hospital-cumhome from where he was released. Once again it has been proven that if you are rich and influential in Pakistan, you can buy the law.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2017.

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