JUI leader challenges life sentence

RAWALPINDI:

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam central leader Farrukh Taji Khokhar, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs1 million in the murder case of PTI worker Majid Satti, has challenged the conviction before the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court and also sought suspension of the sentence along with post-conviction bail.

Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan admitted both the appeal against the conviction and the application seeking suspension of the sentence and bail for hearing.

The court directed the prosecutor to submit a reply within seven days and also summoned the complete trial record.

Defence counsel argued that Farrukh Khokhar had no connection with the case and was not present at the scene, adding that he had been convicted solely on allegations.

They requested the court to suspend the sentence and grant bail, assuring that the accused would appear whenever required.

The appeal also seeks to set aside the additional sessions judge's verdict and acquit the appellant with honour.