Sialkot lynching case: Another policeman’s conviction suspended

Lahore High Court orders release against surety bonds of Rs100,000.

LAHORE:

A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday suspended the conviction and sentence of a constable convicted in the Sialkot lynching case.

Constable Yaseen had been given a three-year prison sentence.

In 2010, two brothers, Hafiz Mughees and Muneeb, were killed by a mob in the presence of police and Rescue 1122 personnel in Buttar village, situated on the outskirts of Sialkot.

According to the prosecution, dozens of people beat the two brothers to death in public.

The trial court had awarded three-year sentences to seven police officials and District Police Officer Waqar Chohan on September 20, 2011 for criminal negligence.

The Lahore High Court ordered Constable Yaseen’s release on furnishing surety bonds of Rs100,000.

His counsel had said that the Supreme Court had held that a convict sentenced to less than five years in prison can be released on bail after suspension of his sentence.

The counsel also submitted that the applicant was not present at the crime scene and the complainant had implicated him in the case with malafide intention.

Yaseen’s counsel also said that his co-accused, former District Police Officer Waqar Chohan, and other police officials had already been released on bail after suspension of their sentences.

The high court bench accepted the petition and suspended Constable Yaseen’s sentence.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2011.