KARACHI: The face of the accused turned pale as he attempted to mumble something with his trembling lips when the judge pronounced the dreaded words: “You are found guilty and sentenced to hang till death,” for killing his wife over a dispute about custody of their children.

Additional and Sessions Judge (East) Abdul Zahoor Chandio on Thursday convicted Bakht Buland on four counts, including the murder of his wife Zaib-un-Nisa, attempted murder, causing bullet injuries, and the illegal use of a licensed weapon.

The judgement was announced in an open court after considering evidence and arguments from the prosecution and the defence sides.

In a detailed judgment, the court found Bakht guilty and sentenced him to death. The court also imposed a fine of Rs1 million on him, which is to be paid to the legal heirs of victim Zaib-un-Nisa.

Additionally, the convict was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting murder of one Muhammad Anwar.

In 2021, the accused shot dead his estranged wife during an altercation over their children’s custody

He was also fined Rs200,000, which he would pay to the injured person.

He was also sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for seven-year an offence punishable under Section 337-F of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs50,000 for an offence under Section 24 of the Sindh Arms Act and imprisonment for 10 years, on default the convict would undergo additional imprisonment.

The co-accused, Babar Khan, who appeared on bail was sentenced to seven years in prison and was fined Rs50,000.

In case of default, he would serve an additional six-month in jail.

“The accused knowingly and having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, intentionally omits to give any information to police or any other concerned person thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 201 of the PPC,” the court said.

For another co-accused, who is a proclaimed absconder, the court directed that the case property be kept in safe custody until the conclusion of the trial against Yousuf Rehman.

According to the prosecution, within the jurisdiction of Jamshed Quarters police station, complainant Muhammad Ashraf informed the police that a case was pending in court over custody of children of his sister.

In December 2021, Bakht, along with his brother Yousuf, visited the complainant’s house, where an altercation ensued, during which Bakht allegedly assaulted the complainant with a pistol.

Meanwhile, the complainant’s sister and brother Anwar tried to stop the fighting, however, the complainant’s brother sustained injuries, and the complainant’s sister was shot dead. Yousuf then opened fire on another brother of the complainant, Muhammad Haroon, before fleeing the scene in a car driven by Babar Khan.

During the trial, state prosecutor Muhammad Ashraf Bhatti argued that Bakht did not deny the possession of the crime weapon, but failed to produce evidence to support his claim that it was in his wife’s possession when she left the house.

He contended that a daughter of Bakht nominated her father in the commission of the offence in her recorded statement before the court.

Advocate Nawaz Khan Tanoli, the defence counsel for Bakht, argued that his client was falsely implicated due to previous enmity and disputed the prosecution’s evidence regarding the firing of bullets. However, the court noted that no enmity of complainant and witnesses had been established with the accused to falsely implicate him in the case.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024