Anti-Terrorism Court Lahore Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta awarded death sentence to both accused—Abdi Malhi and Shafqat Ali—in the Lahore-Sheikhupura Motorway gang rape case that stirred the country and commended from all walks of lives, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta reached the Camp Jail Lahore to announce the verdict on the Motorway rape incident.

Both have also been fine Rs50,000 each and the court also ordered to confiscate the properties of both accused. The accused were also sentenced to the life-imprisonment as well.

A total of 37 witnesses were present before the court and testified against the two accused. Police inducted the accused with charges 365-A, 391, 427, 337 and 7-ATA. 

The Anti-Terrorism Court has reserved the verdict after both prosecution and the defence completed their argument in the case on March 18.

Earlier, the gang-rape victim had identified both accused Abid Malhi and Shafqat in a police identity parade held at Camp Jail Lahore.

The DNA samples of both the accused had also matched with the samples taken from the victim.

On September 9, 2020, the two accused armed with guns gang-raped a woman while she was waiting for help on the motorway in the Gujjarpura area of Lahore. The woman, who was going to Gujranwala from Lahore, parked her car on the roadside as it ran out of fuel soon after crossing the toll plaza. When she called the National Highways and Motorway Police, she was told that the area did not fall under their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, the armed men appeared there and forced them to leave the car. Later, they took the woman and her children to a nearby deserted place covered by trees where they gang-raped her in front of her children. The criminals later fled the scene after snatching the cash and other valuable items.

The incident had shocked all in the country with the whole nation demanding the arrest and severe punishment for the culprits.

Who is Abid Malhi?

According to Police, Abid Ali alias Abid Malhi, prime accused in the Lahore Motorway rape case was arrested in Faisalabad and then it was said he was arrested in Manga Mandi on the outskirts of Lahore. 

And then Abid’s father Akbar Ali said he himself handed over Abid to the police because the police had arrested every member of his family. 

Talking to Nadeem Sandhu of 24NewsHD TV in Manga Mandi, Akbar Ali said he handed over Abid Ali to police in order to secure the release of other members of his family. 

He said that Abid contacted him one month after the Lahore Motorway rape case and he asked him to return home and court arrest. 

He said that Abid courted arrest on his request. He said that he himself called the police to arrest Abid. He said that he handed over Abid to the police on the assurance of Khalid Butt.