Iftar Timings Mar 28 - Ramazan 17

Lahore
LHR
06:20 PM
Karachi
KHI
06:46 PM
Islamabad
ISB
06:26 PM
Peshawar
PWR
06:30 PM
Quetta
QTA
06:49 PM

News

Man on death row in Sri Lankan citizen’s lynching case moves LHC against his sentence

April 25, 2022 11:21 AM


A man, who had been handed down the death penalty by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the murder case of a Sri Lankan citizen who had been lynched by a mob in a Sialkot factory on blasphemy charges, on Monday challenged his sentence in the Lahore High Court (LHC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.   

In his acquittal plea, which Hafiz Muhammad Taimoor filed in the high court through his counsel Hafiz Israrul Haq Advocate, he argued that the prosecution had failed to prove him guilty on the basis of accounts given by two eyewitnesses, including Adnan Malik.    

He went on to add that there was an allegation against him that he had hit the Sri Lankan citizen’s head with a brick. “However, the forensic science agency’s report negates this allegation,” read the petition.    

It was further stated in the petition that the Sri Lankan citizen’s murder was not planned; rather it happened accidentally and the ATC had awarded death penalty to six accused in the case without any solid proofs. 

Therefore, Hafiz Taimoor, the petitioner, prayed to the court to declare the sentence awarded to him null and void. 

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) had six days ago, on April 18, 2022, sentenced six accused to death and nine to life imprisonment for the lynching of Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan citizen, in the Sialkot factory last December.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the court has also verdict two years-long imprisonments to 72 people each who were also involved in the barbarian act. An accused Ali Asghar is awarded a sentence of imprisonment of five years while one of the accused Bilal was acquitted in the case.

The court awarded the death sentence to Taimur, Abdur Rehman, Muhammad Arshad, Ali Hussain, Abu Talha and Muhammad Humair while accused Rohail Amjad, Mohammad Shoaib, Ehtisham Zaib, Imran Riaz, Sajid Amin, Zaigham Mehdi, Ali Hamza, Luqman Haider and Abdus Saboor were awarded life imprisonment.

Priyantha Kumara was a manager in a factory in Sialkot and was lynched by the mob comprising hundreds of his employees alleging him a blasphemer.

Reporter: Malik Ashraf 



Most Read

  1. Aitchison College principal resigns over differences with Punjab governor Aitchison College principal resigns over differences with Punjab governor
  2. Aitchison College students, parents stage protest against principal’s resignation Aitchison College students, parents stage protest against principal’s resignation
  3. Tribal firefight in Gotki, Motorways section shut down Tribal firefight in Gotki, Motorways section shut down
  4. Five Chinese among six killed in Shangla suicide bombing Five Chinese among six killed in Shangla suicide bombing
  5. Transferred: Lawman bears the brunt of flagging down lawmaker Transferred: Lawman bears the brunt of flagging down lawmaker
  6. Maaz Safder regrets 4-year relationship with wife Saba Maaz Safder regrets 4-year relationship with wife Saba

Opinion

  1. IMEC to sabotage CPEC
    IMEC to sabotage CPEC

    By Dr Asif Channer

  2. 1947 TO FORM 47
    1947 TO FORM 47

    By Dr Asif Channer

  3. Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....
    Beijing wants to further highlight industrial sector in its country and take scientific innovation to new heights....

    By Ali Ramay

  4. Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses
    Global race: China will reduce its unnecessary expenses

    By Ali Ramay

  5. Channer Pir: The Great Saint of Cholistan
    Channer Pir: The Great Saint of Cholistan

    By Dr Asif Channer

  6. Literate the Religious Illiterate
    Literate the Religious Illiterate

    By Dr Asif Channer