SHC sets aside Sunni Tehreek activist’s death sentence in murder case

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday set aside the death sentence of an activist of the Sunni Tehreek in a sectarian killing case but upheld his 14-year imprisonment sentence in a case pertaining to possession of explosive substance and illegal weapons.

Sanwal, alias Chariya, was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court for murdering a private bank employee and awarded 14-year imprisonment for possessing illegal weapons and explosive substance. According to the prosecution, the appellant was arrested by the police and during investigations he disclosed that he had concealed a huge cache of arms and ammunition at the KESC PMT room near Burnes Road and also murdered of bank employee in the Saddar area on October 9, 2012.

A counsel for the appellant submitted that he was falsely implicated in the murder case and his confession before the police could not be admissible under the law. The counsel sought acquittal of the appellant arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove charges against him.

A deputy prosecutor general supported the prosecution case and requested the SHC to dismiss the appeal. After perusal of the evidence and hearing the arguments, the high court observed that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges of murder against the appellant; however, it had been proved that the weapons and explosive substance were seized due to his disclosure. The SHC set aside the death sentence awarded to the appellant but upheld his 14-year imprisonment.