SC questions trial court’s verdict in murder case

A three-member bench of Supreme Court on Monday headed by Justice Maqbool Baqir questioned the life sentence given by a trial court to a convict in the murder of a doctor.

During the hearing, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar in his remarks raised several questions about the verdicts of the trial court and the high court verdicts in the murder case.

“On what basis the trial court has sentenced the accused to life imprisonment instead of capital punishment? The trial court in its verdict has taken the stance that the killer, being a young man, was given lesser punishment,” the judge observed.

The judge further remarked: “The trial court and the high court did not write down the reasons for not giving the death penalty. Where in the law, it is written that if the terrorist is a young man, the punishment should be reduced?”

“One of the reasons for the murder is religious hatred, Justice Mazahir Ali Akbar said adding that the accused was involved in several other cases as well.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court while approving the appeal of convict Atif Nizami against the life sentence, issued notices to the parties and adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2022.