Sujawal Murder Case
KAMRAN KHAMISO KHOWAJA
SUJAWAL
A sessions court in Sujawal awarded death sentences to four men and life imprisonment to two others in a murder case on Thursday.
The verdict was announced by Additional Sessions Judge Ashfaque Ahmed Nizamani in connection with the killing of Ashraf Wanghai, who was fatally ambushed during a violent dispute in Deh Chakri, Taluka Shahbunder of district Sujawal.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on November 23, 2021, when Ashraf was attacked at a local shop by a group of armed individuals following a prior altercation. The attackers, armed with hatchets, inflicted multiple injuries on Ashraf and also injured his brother Chakar, who survived the assault.
Ashraf later succumbed to his injuries on November 25, 2021, at a hospital in Karachi. An FIR (No. 38/2021) was subsequently registered at Police Station Ladiun under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code, including murder, attempted murder, and rioting.
As many as 11 witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution, including the complainant and an injured eyewitness, along with medical and forensic evidence, the court concluded that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court found that the accused formed an unlawful assembly and carried out a coordinated attack, resulting in the death of Ashraf.
Learned counsel for the complainant Mr Aijaz Jumani and Prosecutor for the state Mr Munawer Dayo argued that the prosecution had proved its case beyond the shadow of doubt and the accused had intentionally killed the victim in a fit of anger.
However Mr Shabbir Kumbhar the counsel for accused denied the allegation of complainant and mentioned that accused were wrongfully and with malice implicated in the case over an old enmity.
The court convicted the accused under relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code. Four accused—Adam son of Aaroo, Anwer son of Aaroo, Siddique son of Haji Umer, and Sarang son of Adam—were awarded the death sentence under Section 302(b) PPC.
Two others, Gullo alias Ali Ahmed and Zafar son of Razzaq, were sentenced to life imprisonment. Additionally, the latter two were awarded two years’ imprisonment for causing injuries to Chakar.
The court also directed all convicted persons to pay Rs. 500,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased, with a default sentence of six months’ simple imprisonment.
As required under law, the death sentences have been referred to the Sindh High Court for confirmation, and the executions will not be carried out unless approved by the High Court.
The court, in its judgment, emphasized the gravity of the offence, observing that the brutal nature of the attack and consistent eyewitness and medical evidence left no room for doubt, underscoring the need for strict accountability in violent crimes.
