LHC acquits death-row convict after 13 years

The Lahore High Court has acquitted a murder convict after 13 years following he was to gallows by a sessions court, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

A two-member bench on Tuesday acquitted condemned prisoner Akhtar alias Bagu due to absence of eyewitnesses at the scene. 

The bench comprising Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry and Justice Sardar Akbar Ali Dogar heard the case. 

Pir Masood Chishti, an advocate, argued on behalf of the death-row prisoner. 

Qadirpur police station, Jhang district, had registered the murder case of citizen Iftikhar alias Shammo. 

The applicant’s lawyer argued that the presence of witnesses at the scene is not proven and the incident of murder happened at night and it was not possible to identify the accused due to pitched darkness.

The lawyer further argued that there is a contradiction between the eyewitnesses and the medical report. 

The trial court sentenced accused Akhtar to death despite lack of evidence, defence counsel argued.

The Deputy Prosecutor General opposed the appeal against the convict's sentence.

According to the police investigation, witness statements and medical report, the convict was guilty, the public prosecutor argued.

However, despite opposing the appeal of the convict's acquittal, the plaintiff and the public prosecutor could not satisfy the court.