Four sentenced to death for 2021 murder in Korangi

A model court on Wednesday sentenced four men to death for murdering a teacher over a monetary issue.

Rafiq Ahmed, Usman Ali, Sheeraz, alias Sheri, and Zameer Ahmed, alias Zameer Pathan, were convicted of killing 52-year-old Masood Ahmed outside his residence in Korangi in November 2021.

Additional Sessions Judge Aziz ur Rehman Junejo of the Model Criminal Trial Court (East) ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against the accused persons beyond any shadow of reasonable doubt, awarding death sentence to them for committing Qatl-e-Amad (intentional murder) in the furtherance of common intention.

He also ordered the convicts to pay Rs100,000 each as compensation to the legal heirs of the victim. In case of default, they would have to undergo six-month imprisonment. The capital punishment awarded to the accused is subject to confirmation by the Sindh High Court. They have seven working days to file an appeal against their conviction.

According to state prosecutor Muhammad Ashraf Bhatti, two persons on a motorcycle opened fire on the victim as soon as he left his house for work in his car in the Korangi area on the morning of November 26, 2021. The armed men took away wallet of the victim before fleeing the scene.

The deceased man and one of the accused, Rafiq, had a business relationship involving sale of plots and car, the prosecutor said, adding that Rafiq had an outstanding amount to pay to the deceased. To avoid paying this debt, Rafiq hired Usman and Sheeraz to commit the murder of Masood, he contended, adding that Sheeraz and Usman received the motorcycle and pistol used in the crime from Zameer.

The victim's wife Fozia Masood testified that her late husband and Rafiq were business partners with an outstanding amount of Rs9 million owed by Rafiq to her husband. She said when her husband demanded the amount, Rafiq hired Usman, who along with his co-accused Sheeraz murdered him.

During interrogation, Usman disclosed that Rafiq gave him Rs100,000 to kill his business partner. He admitted that he sought the help of his friend Sheeraz to accomplish the task. Zameer disclosed that he had given the pistol and motorcycle used in the commission of the offence to Sheeraz and Usman. During the trial, the accused, however, claimed innocence saying that they had been falsely implicated in the case.