ISLAMABAD: In a landmark judgment on Friday, an anti-terror court sentenced to death a soldier who shot dead an unarmed youth as he was begging for mercy.| This just about pegged the Surprise Meter, though the whole incident was caught on videotape and the average chumbalones in Pakistain were actually paying attention. I still thought the perps would either walk or get a wrist-slap. |
Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso told the seven accused they were guilty of murder and read out the verdicts. Khoso pronounced the verdict before the anti-terrorism court in Karachi, finding 35-year-old Shahid Zafar guilty of pulling the trigger, and sentenced him to death and a fine of 200,000 rupees ($2,300).
"The crime of killing Sarfraz Shah has been proved against you and I announce the death sentence and also impose a fine of 200,000 rupees," said Khoso, addressing Zafar.
He handed life terms to five other paramilitary soldiers and a civilian who had accused Shah of robbery and dragged him over to them. The judge ordered each to pay 100,000 rupees to the victim's family. The verdict concludes a swift trial after the seven defendants were charged with murder and terrorism on June 29, just weeks after the killing.
The June 8 killing of Sarfaraz Shah in Karachi, was caught on videotape and repeatedly broadcast on TV, triggering unusual public anger at the country's powerful military. It sparked a backlash over the brutality of trained officers in a country awash with violence blamed on the Taleban and Al-Qaeda. Lawyers said it marked the first time that a civilian court in Pakistan has sentenced to death a serving member of the military.
Although the Rangers paramilitary technically comes under the supervision of the interior ministry, it is considered part of the powerful armed forces, which has ruled the country for more than half its existence.
There was a euphoric reaction from the prosecution and the victim's family, but the defense vowed to appeal the sentences. "The decision is historic, it shows no one is above the law," government Prosecutor Mohammed Khan Buriro told reporters.
"The Rangers as an institution was not involved in the murder, and it proved in the court proceedings it was the culprits' own act," he said. "My family is extremely relieved with the verdict. We have got justice," said Salik Shah, brother of the victim.
Speaking to the media after the court's verdict, slain Sarfaraz Shah's brother Salik Shah said he was satisfied with the decision and thanked the chief justice of Pakistan for taking notice of this case.
Sarfaraz Shah's father said the decision was on merit and it should be upheld by the superior courts and implemented. "God listened to our prayers, we spent the last two months crying," he added.
Human Rights Watch welcomed the verdicts. "One hopes that the verdict will go some way in arresting the impunity with which Pakistan's trigger-happy security and paramilitary agencies perpetrate abuses," said Ali Dayan Hasan, the group's Pakistan director.