Appeal filed: Ghazala Javed’s former husband challenges conviction

Submits petition saying sentence ‘is not based on solid proof’.


Our Correspondent December 21, 2013
Javed’s ex-husband Jehangir presented his statement before Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Zubair Khan. PHOTO: FILE

PESHAWAR: Late Pashto singer Ghazala Javed’s former husband Malik Jehangir has challenged his conviction and death penalty in her murder case.

Jehangir was convicted on December 17 on three counts and awarded a death sentence by Swat District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Tariq Pervaiz Baloch.

Advocate Inam Yousafzai filed the petition on Jehangir’s behalf at the Peshawar High Court on Friday. Making grounds for the case, the petition states Ghazala was killed by unidentified motorcyclists in the jurisdiction of Shah Qabool police station and Jehangir’s conviction is not based on ‘solid proof’ against the accused.

http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac89/etwebdesk/Jehangirwas_zps37fad627.jpg

“The sentence was given on the basis of external influence and against evidence submitted,” the petition read. It added the conviction was not based on legal points and was too severe.

The petitioner further alleged there were many witnesses who recorded their statements in Jehangir’s favour, but they were sidelined in the court’s decision. “The conviction by the district and sessions judge should be set aside,” the petitioner requested.

Jehangir was sentenced to death twice and fined Rs50 million and Rs20 million for two murders, and fined Rs1 million and 10 years imprisonment for attempted murder on December 17.

Ghazala was shot dead along with her father on June 18, 2012 in Mohalla Nuo, Dabagari, Peshawar. Her younger sister Farhat Javed later filed an FIR with the police, accusing Jehangir and his friends Salam and Naseer of killing the singer and her father.

Farhat told the police Ghazala had a dispute with her husband Jehangir and had sought divorce only six months after marriage.

Jehangir was later arrested on August 29, 2012 from his house and on November 3 last year Peshawar District and Sessions Judge Shahbar Khan framed charges against the suspect. The case was later transferred to Swat after Ghazala’s family received threats.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2013.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ