LHC orders speedy trial in boy's murder

The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the trial court to conclude the proceedings within two months in the alleged murder case of 10-year-old madrassa student Faizan Sultan in Kallar Syedan.

Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan issued the direction while hearing a petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to one of the accused, Haji Sharif, at the initial stage of the murder case.

Counsel for the deceased's family told the court that the 10-year-old student had allegedly been subjected to severe physical violence last month. Despite suffering serious injuries, the accused allegedly failed to take him to hospital and instead kept him at the madrassa for a week, where he was given makeshift treatment.

The counsel argued that the boy could have survived had he been taken to hospital immediately. They maintained that deliberately withholding medical treatment constituted an offence and effectively protected those allegedly responsible for the violence. The court observed that the case involved a serious and brutal murder and directed the trial court to decide the matter within two months, according to law.