Lahore High Court Upholds Death Sentences in Motorway Gang Rape Case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has upheld the death sentences awarded to convicts Abid Ali and Shafqat alias Bagga in the high-profile motorway gang rape case, dismissing their appeals against the punishment awarded by the trial court.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa issued a detailed written judgment, ruling that DNA, medical, and forensic evidence proved the guilt of the convicts beyond any reasonable doubt.

The court observed that the victim’s testimony was highly credible and was fully corroborated by medical reports, forensic findings, and other scientific evidence presented during the trial. According to the judgment, DNA analysis conclusively established Abid Ali’s involvement in the crime, while blood samples recovered from the victim’s vehicle also matched the convict’s DNA profile.

The judgment further stated that forensic evidence significantly strengthened the prosecution’s case, and both convicts were correctly identified during the identification parade. The court noted that the perpetrators forcibly removed the woman and her children from their vehicle before committing the heinous crime, an act that not only traumatized the victim’s family but also spread fear throughout society.

The Lahore High Court held that no leniency could be extended in such a grave offence and that the death sentences awarded by the trial court were proportionate to the nature and severity of the crime, leaving no room for judicial interference. The court also dismissed the state’s appeal seeking enhancement of the sentence and maintained the life imprisonment awarded to the convicts on other charges.

The incident took place on September 9, 2020, near Lahore on the motorway, where two armed men robbed a woman and sexually assaulted her in front of her children after her vehicle broke down at night. Police arrested Shafqat first, followed by Abid Ali after an extensive investigation.

A special court had earlier sentenced both convicts to death for rape, life imprisonment for wrongful confinement, and 14 years’ imprisonment for robbery. The convicts challenged the Anti-Terrorism Court’s verdict before the Lahore High Court on March 25, 2021. The High Court has now dismissed their appeals and upheld the trial court’s decision.