Sarfraz Shah case: Petitioner withdraws call for death sentence

Prosecutor Khadim Hussain is expected to present a statement at the hearing on Thursday.

KARACHI: Ten days shy of the two year anniversary of that fateful June evening in Karachi, when youngster Sarfraz Shah died of a bullet fired by a Rangers official, the court case came to a close as the petitioner, Saalik Shah, withdrew his application calling for a death sentence for the six accused, Express News reported.

A Sindh High Court two-member appellate bench presided over a hearing where the lawyers of the accused Rangers presented their case. Subsequently, one of the petitioners withdrew his application which requested the death penalty for the accused.

The Rangers are currently serving life terms for committing the extra-judicial murder of Sarfraz Shah, a 22 year old in Karachi on June 8, 2011. The petition had urged for them to be hanged.

The appellate bench stated their apprehensions at the withdrawal and termed it 'suspicious'.

Prosecutor Khadim Hussain is expected to present a statement when the hearing resumes on Thursday.