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LHC confirms death sentences in motorway gang rape case
— The Lahore High Court has rejected the petitions of convicts Abid Ali and Shafqat alias Bugga against the conviction of the trial court for awarding them death sentences in the high-profile motorway gang rape case. The court found that DNA, medical and forensic evidence showed their guilt beyond any reasonable doubt.
A two-member bench of Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa announced a thorough written judgement and said that the evidence of the survivor was believable, reliable and had substantial evidential value. The judgement said her account had been fully confirmed by medical, forensic and other scientific evidence.
The court observed that the DNA report vindicated Abid Ali’s involvement in the crime and the blood samples collected from the vehicle also matched his DNA profile. It also said the forensic evidence had substantially strengthened the prosecution case and the identification parade was correctly conducted for both the convicts.
“The convicts took the woman and her children away from the vehicle by force before committing the heinous offence,” the written judgement said. The crime not only traumatised the victim’s family, but also created fear and panic in the society. There were no mitigating factors for such a serious crime, the judge said.
The Lahore High Court further observed that the death awards given by the trial court were in complete tune with the nature and severity of the offence and there was no scope for judicial involvement. The court also dismissed the state’s petition for augmentation of sentence and confirmed the life imprisonment handed to the convicted on additional counts.
The Punjab government has decided to celebrate Basant next year with the traditional kite-flying event being held in February instead of January.
In this regard, Punjab Home Department and the district administration have prepared a draft plan for Basant in Lahore next year.
The festival has been rescheduled to February and the final date will be revealed after the consent of the provincial government, sources added.
Preparations will be mindful of last year’s experience and preparations. Permission for kite, string and other associated manufacturing operations is also likely to be given soon while laws and regulations governing kite flying will be completed before the festival.
Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani called Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar last nite.
Foreign Minister Al Zayani thanked DPM Dar on signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He also said he would visit Pakistan soon.
Dar appreciated Dr. Al Zayani’s interest to visit Pakistan and thanked him for his good sentiments.
He emphasised Pakistan’s strong commitment to promote dialogue and diplomacy to achieve peace and stability in the region and beyond.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he will demand that Iran pay compensation for “all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded,” in response to Iran seeking compensation for the damages it has incurred from US and Israeli attacks.
Trump’s social media post came after Iran said over the weekend it was nearing a deal with Oman defining new shipping lanes between them through the Strait of Hormuz but repeated that the US must meet conditions including compensation and an end to sanctions and military threats, before the strategic waterway is reopened.
“It is an interesting idea because now I am likewise demanding compensation from Iran, for all of the people that they have killed and gravely wounded with their roadside bombs and many conflicts,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also referenced and claimed compensation from Iran for the October 2000 deadly bombing of the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Cole at a Yemeni port.
The FBI has attributed that bombing, which killed 17 sailors and wounded more than three dozen others, to al Qaeda.
Trump added that Tehran should also pay compensation to the families of the thousands of people during anti-government protests in January, Iran’s worst domestic unrest since the era of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Rights groups say the Iranian government has continued to crack down on opponents during the war.
Punjab announces to hold Basant in Feb next year
Bahrain FM congratulates Dar on Makkah Joint Defence Deal
Trump: Iran must compensate for those it has killed, maimed
ICC board meeting in India: Mohsin Naqvi gets invitation
A meta program to monitor mouse clicks made by employees in violation of EU privacy regulations
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