Supreme Court acquits man sentenced to death after two decades

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Shariat Appellate Bench acquitted an accused who had been sentenced to death more than two decades ago.

The bench consisted of five members and was headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa. It ruled in favour of the accused, who had been convicted of double murder and adultery.

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The case dates back to 2004 when an Additional Judge in Wazirabad sentenced the accused to death and seven years in prison.

The Federal Sharia Court upheld this conviction in 2012. The accused subsequently appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

The case was accepted by the country’s highest court for hearing in 2018, six years after the appeal was filed.

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Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa highlighted deficiencies in the police investigation, questioning why evidence was not properly gathered. He criticised the police for failing to conduct a thorough investigation, suggesting that their shortcomings should not be compounded by judicial errors.

The Supreme Court acquitted the accused on the grounds of insufficient evidence and benefit of doubt.