LHC upholds death sentence of Motorway gang rape convicts

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday upheld the convictions and sentences awarded to the two men found guilty in the high-profile 2020 Sialkot-Lahore Motorway gang rape case, dismissing their appeals against the trial court’s verdict.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa announced the decision after hearing detailed arguments from both the prosecution and defence sides.

The appeals had been filed by the convicts, Abid Ali alias Malhi and Shafqat Ali alias Bagga, who challenged the judgment of an anti-terrorism court that had sentenced them to death, life imprisonment and additional jail terms on March 20, 2021.

In their petitions, the convicts argued that the prosecution’s case contained several inconsistencies and weaknesses that cast doubt on the credibility of the evidence. They maintained that the trial court’s verdict was harsh and contrary to established legal principles, urging the high court to overturn their convictions.

However, during final arguments, the state prosecutor contended that the prosecution had presented overwhelming and irrefutable evidence linking the convicts to the crime. He argued that the trial court had carefully examined all available evidence before reaching its conclusion and that there were no legal grounds to interfere with the judgment.

The prosecutor requested the court to uphold the convictions and sentences, asserting that the trial court’s decision was fully supported by the record.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the division bench dismissed the appeals and maintained the sentences awarded by the anti-terrorism court.

The case relates to the shocking motorway gang rape incident that occurred in September 2020 and triggered widespread public outrage across Pakistan.

The convicts were found guilty of gang-raping a French woman of Pakistani origin in front of her three children after allegedly dragging her from her vehicle when it ran out of fuel during a late-night journey on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway.

The incident sparked nationwide condemnation and renewed debate over women’s safety, law enforcement performance and criminal justice reforms. Public anger intensified after controversial remarks by the then Lahore police chief, which were widely criticised for appearing to place responsibility on the victim.

Following the incident, Gujjarpura police registered a first information report (FIR) on September 9, 2020 under various provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The case was investigated on a priority basis, leading to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the two accused by an anti-terrorism court in March 2021.

With the dismissal of the appeals by the Lahore High Court, the convictions and sentences awarded to the convicts remain intact, marking another significant legal development in one of Pakistan’s most widely publicised criminal cases.