Court sentences accused in siblings' starvation case

RAWALPINDI:

The court has pronounced its verdict in the case of the pair of siblings, who were heir to thousands of kanals of land in Chakwal, and who were locked up and starved on a Haveli on their own lands, which ultimately led to the sister's death.

The main accused, Ansar Abbas, was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison with hard labour, along with the imposition of a fine of Rs50,000 and blood money worth more than Rs9.8 million. The court gave the benefit of doubt and acquitted the other 9 accused, including 6 women.

Express's coverage of the inhumane incident of keeping Hassan Raza and his sister Jabeen Bibi, the sole heirs of 955 kanals of valuable land, in a haveli in Chakwal led to the case's successful conclusion. The local court of Chakwal sentenced the main accused to imprisonment and imposed a fine.

Express reported extensively on the case registered in Chakwal's Nila police station through an anonymous letter in February this year which led to the police taking action and arresting the main accused Ansar Abbas and others.

The trial lasted in court for 8 months.