Cop sentenced to death for killing lawyers

Suspect targeted advocates outside courtroom in family dispute case

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RAWALPINDI:

A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday sentenced a police constable to death three times, three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs2 million for killing two senior lawyers.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah in the Sessions Court Attock awarded the death sentence to police commando Intizar Hussain Shah, who shot and killed Punjab Bar Council member and senior lawyer Malik Israr Ahmed and advocate Zulfiqar Ahmed at the courtroom door a day before Eidul Azha.

The court also ordered that the culprit be hanged until he died. The court completed the hearing in record time and delivered the verdict. A large number of lawyers were also present in the courtroom.

Murder suspect Intizar Hussain Shah, son of Ghaus Shah, opened fire at the two lawyers from the courtroom door on June 15, 2024, a day before Eidul Azha, when they were leaving the courtroom.

Malik Israr was appearing as an opposing lawyer in a family case of the culprit, whom the accused was very upset with. The suspect actually opened fire at Israr but the other lawyer Zulfiqar was also fatally wounded. City Attock police registered a case under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 7 Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and the Lawyers Welfare Protection Act.

The court sentenced the accused to two death sentences, one death sentence each, for killing both lawyers under section 302, one death sentence under the 7 ATA, complete confiscation of all movable and immovable properties, and a compensation of Rs1m to the heirs of both the deceased lawyers and an additional three years of rigorous imprisonment under the Lawyers Welfare Protection Act.

The legal fraternity welcomed the sentence and said justice had been done.

However, the convict vowed to challenge the sentence in the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench. He was transferred from the court to Attock Jail.