7 awarded 4-count death in Sialkot lynching case

In a landmark decision, an anti-terrorism court Tuesday handed down four times death punishment to seven accused and life imprisonment to six others in Sialkot case in which two brothers Mughees and Muneeb were brutally lynched in full public view in August last year, Geo News reported.

Ten policemen, including DPO Waqar Chohan, were also awarded 3 years in jail.

Earlier today, the anti-terrorism court had reserved its verdict in the case and after a delay of about 10 hours it announced the historic verdict that is hoped to assuage, at least to a slightest degree, the anguish of the bereaved family including the slain brothers bleeding mother.

The incident took place in Sialkot on 15 August 2010 when two brothers, Muneeb and Mughees were publicly lynched and killed by a mob while police officials remained present there as silent spectators.

Two FIRs had been lodged at the Saddar police station. The first was lodged on the same day when the incident took place in which the two brothers were accused of murder and robbery.

The second FIR was lodged after the video of the lynching was played on news channels leading to a suo moto notice by the Supreme Court. The FIR was lodged against 28 including police officials accused of not intervening when the incident was taking place. Ten police officers including the DPO Sialkot along with 18 locals were arrested and presented in the anti-terrorism court.

The accused were charged on November 3, 2010 and the statements of 31 witnesses were recorded.