Lahore High Court acquits murder accused

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has overturned death sentence awarded to an accused in the murder case and acquitted him, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

During proceedings on Thursday, the court also abolished the sentence of life imprisonment of Omar Hayat and a fine of Rs1 million. 

The High Court ordered the immediate release of Omar Hayat from jail. 

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh issued the decision. 

According to the written verdict, the prosecution failed to prove the crime against Omar Hayat beyond reasonable doubt. Giving the benefit of doubt to the accused is not a concession but a legal right, the judge remarked. 

The post-mortem report against the accused was not proven according to law, he said and added, the post-mortem report was not proven by a doctor or any credible witness. 

Presenting the post-mortem report through the statement of the public prosecutor is not according to the law, the court observed, adding there were significant contradictions in the statements of the prosecution's eyewitnesses. 

Other eyewitnesses of the firing incident were not presented in court. 

According to forensic report, shell found at crime scene from recovered pistol was not fired.

The guilt of the accused cannot be proven by the recovery of the weapon alone.