An Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced one Rangers official to death and six others to life imprisonment for the murder of the unarmed youth who was shot dead in a park in Karachi.
(Read: One handed death penalty, others given life imprisonment)
Speaking to the media, the Rangers' lawyer, Rehmat Ali said the judge ruled against his clients, presumably, under the influence of the Supreme Court.
He said he had always disputed the nature of the case, saying that the it should not have been tried in an Anti-Terrorism Court.
(Read: Defence counsel requests case be shifted from ATC)
The defence counsel lawyer of the Rangers personnel involved in the murder said that his clients have the right to appeal in higher courts against the verdict.
Shah was shot at point blank range in the Benazir Bhutto park in an incident filmed live and broadcast on television. Footage of the incident, filmed by an Awaaz TV cameraman, was broadcast repeatedly on local television stations.
In it, a Rangers official can be seen dragging the boy, then throwing him towards half a dozen armed comrades, one of whom then shot the youth twice at point-blank range as he begged for his life.
The five Rangers were subsequently arrested and taken to the Rangers headquarters and Jinnah Court in Karachi.
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COMMENTS (19)
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This is really a ridiculous decision in my view. Had he really wanted to kill that robber, he would had fired the bullet at his head or chest but he fired on the thigh. Unfortunately the victim succumbed into injury because he was not taken to the hospital. This is sick and a share crime but assigning death penalty is way too harsh at most 15 years prison would had done the job.More then the court, it seemed a media trial.
We don't know how many innocent people have been killed so far just like Sarfraz Shah by such 'wild like animal' rangers & policemen. Even this single incident is enough to show the reality of brutal acts being done by these institutions and their individuals. They can prove any innocent civilian as a Dangerous Terrorist and kill. They can file false cases against innocent people and send them to jail.
Allah knows them well and they can never escape from His punishment INSHA ALLAH.
I do not condone the actions of the Rangers. But I have a few questions:
The guy was shot in the foot when he repeatedly tried to snatch the rifle. Yes he died later. So it can be considered manslaughter but not murder. When shoot at sight orders are given to rangers and they shoot someone, should someone question the shoot at sight order? Regardles of whether one agrees with the judgment or not, is it fair to try Rangers in anti-terrorism court rather than regular court? As many people have listed, why are people like Mumtaz Qadri not tried as expeditiously? Most people are complainin that the polic/Rangers were doing nothing during the recent violence outbreak in Karachi. What do you expect them to do? If they catch someone who was brandishing a gun (like Sarfarz Shah was) and the person tries to grab their gun and they shoot, they weill be sentenced to death. If they take no action, that peron can shoot them.All the Rangers who were standing around Sarfraz shah should be death penalty along with the main killer. They could have stopped this crime but they did not. Justice ZINDA BAD.
this shows the mindset of our beloved CJ. He is hell bent at destroying the bureaucratic, security and governmental fiber, while guarding his "sectarian brothern". The result will be anarchy, and only his radical favorites will benefit.
so it was easy to hang this one, what about others seen in video who equally participated in the shooting. the other day a natorious leader of a militant organization was released by court, the killer of Salman Taseer is not punished, it means religious and political parties men can't be punished, but govt is ready to sacrify its own people if found guilty, this will further encourage militants who are also killing security forces off and on.
What about punishing those who brought in the Rangers to cities without adequate training ?
Or
What about 700+ killings in Karachi this year. Why not hang the real murderers?
what about qadri ?
what about the killer of salman taseer. He is enjoing in jail.
this is too brutal penalty . hope the high court will lessen it.
Justice well done. The rangers personnel had no right to shoot him at a point blank range. He wasn't a threat to anyone. They could have hand cuffed him, collected evidence and handed him over to the court of law to decide. This should be a lesson for all. Rangers, police and other such departments are there to serve people. In Pakistan we get scared when we see police. There are countries where people feel safe when they see the cops.
When target killers, religious and sectarian terrorists roam free, I dont feel fully satisfied with the judgement; although he killed an innocent man and perhaps deserved death sentence but this is selective justice. Its mere bad luck that he was caught on camera. I hope the case gets settled through Diyat.
Rangers personnel were on duty how can they be tried in ATC I am sure they will be acquitted in appeal. The punishment is harsh
you need lots of guts to plead "not guilty" the staffers of Rangers. Our justice system can improve if our lawyers develop an ethical code of not accepting the cases of confirmed murderers and those involved in crimes. If I were a lawyer I would not take up cases of criminal. This is the least to save the dignity of humanity and the profession. A lawyer does know if his/her client has committed the crime or not.
Its their due to right to lodge appeak in superior courts but what happened to the Mumtaz Qadri case, Why no judgment is coming for him ?
Release the Ranger's chaps. They were doing thier duty. At most it was manslaughter nor murder.
Justice DONE for now. We hope SHC and SC will also uphold this verdict