An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday handed three death sentences to Sohail Shahazad for the abduction, rape and murder of a minor boy in Chunian.
Shahzad was arrested on October 1 in relation to the murder of four minors – aged between eight and 12 years – who had disappeared from their homes, earlier this year.
The bodies of the disappeared children were recovered on September 17 from sand dunes near Chunian bypass, sparking outrage among residents of the district who called for immediate action to be taken.
Shahzad was arrested almost two weeks later, after his DNA matched with samples recovered from the body of one of his victims.
ATC judge Mohammad Iqbal gave the verdict on Tuesday, handing the convict death sentence on three counts and life imprisonment on another. He has been ordered by the court to pay a fine of Rs3 million on three separate counts in addition to Rs200,000 compensation to the legal heirs of the victim. In case of failure to pay compensation and fine, he will have to serve additional six months.
The trial against the convict was held at Kot Lakhpat Jail due to security concerns. During the trial, a total of 23 witnesses recorded their statements against the convict.
