Zainab murder case: Punjab govt gets LHC notice over public hanging plea
Victim’s father once again requests court to execute convict in public
Amin believes that a public execution would set an example for child abusers and will deter such incidents PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notice to Punjab government on a petition seeking public hanging of convict Imran Ali, who is set to be executed on October 17 for rape-cum-murder of seven-year-old Zainab of Kasur.
A division bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan, issued the notice for October 16 (today) on a petition filed by Zainab’s father, Amin Ansari, through Ishtiaq Chaudhry.
The petition requested that venue for Imran Ali’s execution be changed under section 22 of 7ATA to a public place “to set an example to protect the lives of other innocent minors” and “send a loud message to the nation to avoid such gory incidents in future”.
It contended that all appeals of the convict have been dismissed by legal forums and the LHC, the Supreme Court and the president of Pakistan have dismissed his appeals.
Zainab murder case: Father moves LHC for public execution of Imran Ali
The petitioner submitted that the court under section 22 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 can empower the government to hang a convict publicly, “but the government is not complying with the law available on the subject”.
Previously, the LHC on a similar petition by Ansari had referred the matter to the government.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued death warrant for Imran Ali’s execution inside the Kot Lakhpat jail. It directed the jail superintendent to execute the warrant and submit a compliance report.
The ATC on Feb 17 sentenced Imran Ali to death on four counts, following his four-day jail trial at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The death penalty was awarded under four sections of laws including 364-A of Pakistan Penal Code (kidnapping a person under the age of fourteen), 376 of PPC (rape), 302-B of PPC (murder) and section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act 1997 (for creating terrorism by his act).
Zainab murder case: Imran Ali to be executed on Oct 17
The court had also sentenced Imran Ali to life imprisonment under section 377 of PPC (unnatural offence/sodomy) and to seven-year imprisonment under section 201 of PPC (dumping the dead body).
The court had also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the convict to be paid to legal heirs of Zainab in addition to a collective fine of Rs3.2 million imposed under different sections of law.
Talking to media, Ansari demanded that President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan contribute to a ‘big cause’ by allowing the hanging of Imran Ali in public.
He also demanded that the convict be hanged on the given date of Oct 17.
“It is tantamount to setting an example if Imran is hanged publically to give a message to society that the man who commits such offence will face the same fate,” he said.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notice to Punjab government on a petition seeking public hanging of convict Imran Ali, who is set to be executed on October 17 for rape-cum-murder of seven-year-old Zainab of Kasur.
A division bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan, issued the notice for October 16 (today) on a petition filed by Zainab’s father, Amin Ansari, through Ishtiaq Chaudhry.
The petition requested that venue for Imran Ali’s execution be changed under section 22 of 7ATA to a public place “to set an example to protect the lives of other innocent minors” and “send a loud message to the nation to avoid such gory incidents in future”.
It contended that all appeals of the convict have been dismissed by legal forums and the LHC, the Supreme Court and the president of Pakistan have dismissed his appeals.
Zainab murder case: Father moves LHC for public execution of Imran Ali
The petitioner submitted that the court under section 22 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 can empower the government to hang a convict publicly, “but the government is not complying with the law available on the subject”.
Previously, the LHC on a similar petition by Ansari had referred the matter to the government.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued death warrant for Imran Ali’s execution inside the Kot Lakhpat jail. It directed the jail superintendent to execute the warrant and submit a compliance report.
The ATC on Feb 17 sentenced Imran Ali to death on four counts, following his four-day jail trial at Kot Lakhpat Jail. The death penalty was awarded under four sections of laws including 364-A of Pakistan Penal Code (kidnapping a person under the age of fourteen), 376 of PPC (rape), 302-B of PPC (murder) and section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act 1997 (for creating terrorism by his act).
Zainab murder case: Imran Ali to be executed on Oct 17
The court had also sentenced Imran Ali to life imprisonment under section 377 of PPC (unnatural offence/sodomy) and to seven-year imprisonment under section 201 of PPC (dumping the dead body).
The court had also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on the convict to be paid to legal heirs of Zainab in addition to a collective fine of Rs3.2 million imposed under different sections of law.
Talking to media, Ansari demanded that President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan contribute to a ‘big cause’ by allowing the hanging of Imran Ali in public.
He also demanded that the convict be hanged on the given date of Oct 17.
“It is tantamount to setting an example if Imran is hanged publically to give a message to society that the man who commits such offence will face the same fate,” he said.