Immolation: Five sentenced to double life terms

DERA GHAZI KHAN: An anti-terrorism court judge Sajjad Hussain Sindher on Thursday sentenced five men to prison terms convicted of pulling out prisoner Hafiz Abdullah Chandia from a police station and setting him on fire. They were sentenced to two life terms and were asked to pay Rs2.5 million. Deputy prosecutor general Malik Zahid Hussain told The Express Tribune that hearing of the case had been completed on Thursday. ATC Judge Sajjad Hussain Sindher said the main accused, Fahd was given additional seven years imprisonment for dragging the body on the road. As many as 89 suspects were nominated in the case and 34 were arrested. The court released 29 suspects. As many as 55 suspects were declared proclaimed offenders. As many as 29 witnesses gave statements and the court recorded the statement of 18 witnesses. Court said the men would be given an additional six months term if they failed to pay the fine. Deceased Hafiz Abdullah Chandia’s brother had filed the complaint for the case in 2010. Chandia had been attacked by a mob and set on fire after being pulled out from a police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.