Two convicted in property row killing

RAWALPINDI:

An Additional District and Sessions Judge in Rawalpindi has delivered the verdict in a high-profile murder case arising from a property dispute within the jurisdiction of Chontra Police Station.

Upon the prosecution proving its case, the court sentenced one of the accused to death and the other to life imprisonment.

In its detailed judgment, the court ordered that the principal convict, Riffat Mahmood, be "hanged by the neck until dead" after finding him guilty of murder.

He was also directed to pay Rs1 million in compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased. In addition, he was sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs1m for attempted murder.

The co-accused, Banaras Khan, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. He was further awarded 10 years' imprisonment and fined Rs1m for attempted murder.

Collectively, the two convicts were handed down penalties including capital punishment, life imprisonment, fines amounting to Rs2m, compensation totalling Rs1m, and an additional Rs1 million as surety under provisions relating to offences against the person.

According to the court record, the incident occurred in July 2023 in the Chontra area, where the two men opened fire during a dispute over a residential property.