Multiple murders: PHC issues notice to convert life term to death penalty

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday issued a notice to a convict sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering seven family members, including his wife and three children, seeking to enhance his sentence to death penalty. The court questioned why the convict’s punishment should not be upgraded to capital punishment.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Sabitullah heard the appeal filed by convict Muhammad Ibrahim against his life imprisonment sentence.During the hearing, the convict’s lawyer argued that his client was accused of shooting and killing his wife, Bano, sons Saleem, Salman, and Jalal, cousin, his cousin’s wife, Shakeela, and their two-year-old daughter, Somia, in the jurisdiction of Chamakani Police Station on June 26, 2021. Additionally, his seven-year-old son, Haseeb, was injured in the attack. The trial court sentenced him to seven life imprisonment. However, the defense lawyer contended that the prosecution failed to prove beyond doubt that the convict committed the crime and claimed that the police falsely implicated his client.

The lawyer further argued that no solid evidence was collected from the crime scene linking Ibrahim to the murders. He emphasized that the convict himself had taken his injured son to hospital, questioning why he would do so if he had been the one to carry out the killings. He requested the court to overturn the sentence, claiming his client was framed.

On the other hand, Additional Advocate General Naumanul Haq Kakakhel told the court that forensic evidence from the crime scene indicated that all victims were killed with the same weapon. Initially, the complainant in the case was Muhammad Ibrahim himself, who was later found responsible for the murders. The prosecution argued that he attempted to cover up his crime by taking his injured son to hospital to mislead the authorities.

The government lawyer further stated that police had recovered a bloodstained shirt belonging to the convict, along with the murder weapon, based on his identification. The prosecution maintained that the weapon was freshly used, with gunpowder residue still detectable. The court was also informed that the crime scene analysis confirmed the convict’s presence at the location when the murders occurred.

Justice Sahibzada Asadullah inquired whether an appeal had been filed seeking an increase in the convict’s sentence. The government lawyer responded that no such appeal had been filed. However, the court asserted that it had the authority to exercise its discretion in such cases and questioned why the convict’s punishment should not be converted to the death penalty. Consequently, the court issued a notice to Muhammad Ibrahim regarding the enhancement of his sentence and adjourned the hearing.