Centre to file review plea against Shahrukh Jatoi's acquittal
Pakistan
Centre to file review plea against Shahrukh Jatoi's acquittal
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The federal government on Tuesday decided to file a review petition over the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict to acquit Shahrukh Jatoi and his accomplices in the Shahzeb murder case.
In the text of the letter written by the Attorney General’s (AG) Office on the federal government’s decision to review the petition stated that the opinion of the AG was not sought before the decision to acquit Shahrukh Jatoi, while the Supreme Court has already declared this matter as an important constitutional issue.
The letter further stated that the opinion of the Attorney General has been sought on such important constitutional issues, and the AG office has already declared the Shahzeb murder case as a matter of terrorism.
While the apex court in its acquittal verdict reached a conclusion which deviates from the judicial decisions on terrorism crimes. This case is being reconsidered in terms of compromise, corruption in land and other matters, it added.
Earlier today, the apex court acquitted Shahrukh Jatoi and his accomplices in the Shahzeb murder case.
A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case. During the hearing, Shahrukh’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, told the apex court that a formal pardon had already been issued and that his client had no intention of spreading terror.
It merits mentioning that Shahzeb was murdered in 2012 in Karachi’s defence area over a petty dispute. An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had handed the death penalty to Shahrukh and his accomplice, Siraj Ali Talpur, for the murder, while Sajjad Ali Talpur and Ghulam Murtaza Lashari were awarded life sentences.
The SHC, while hearing appeals against the conviction, later commuted the death sentences into life imprisonment. Subsequently, all four accused approached the Supreme Court against the verdict of the high court.
