Shahzeb case: Sindh High Court raises objection
Heirs of slain Shahzeb had earlier forgiven the accused in murder case.
KARACHI (Dunya News) - Sindh High Court Tuesady raised an objection that the heirs of Shahzeb did not submit the copies of their affidavits regarding pardon announced for accused in the Sindh High Court.
The criminal branch of the Sindh High Court raised objection in this connection.
According to the Advocate Mehmood Alam Rizvi, the affidavits filed by Shahzeb’s heirs and appeals filed by accused would be simultaneously heard.
He was also of the view that there was no provision for pardon in the anti terrorism law. Relatives of the victims have forgiven the accused; now it depends on the court as how to deal with the accused.
It is worthy of note that the drop scene of Shahzeb murder case was a manifest of speedy justice on behalf of the special anti-terrorist court that did its constitutional job diligently for the sanctity of the justice and had awarded death sentence to the murderers, Shahrukh Jatoi, Siraj Talpur and 2 others.
However, the court’s orders could not be implemented due to 2 major set-backs as one was the then President’s discretion for suspending death sentences despite the recent statements made by the Sindh High Court Chief Justice, Justice Musheer Alam as the Justice had advocated strongly for the speedy execution of the death sentences awarded to the hardheaded criminals. The other setback was out of court settlement of the case. Either way, judiciary was not allowed to see its orders implemented.
The out of court settlement could also not be criticised as the aggrieved family had the right to reach any settlement or any agreement if the family deemed it fit for the specific case and in this regard, the aggrieved family of the brutally slain Shahzeb also did the out of court settlement and the murderers of Shahzeb were pardoned and in that regard, the court had no rights to set aside the out of court settlement.
Shahzeb was brutally murdered at the door of his residence by Shahrukh Jatoi with automatic pistol as the murderer had fired several bullets that had pierced Shahzeb Jatoi, who had died on the spot. The Police was reluctant to register a case and despite on time information had arrived at the crime scene quite late and if they could have arrived there on time, it was likely that Shahzeb could have survived.
When Shahrukh Jatoi and his accomplice were awarded death sentence, the criminals had shouted slogans in a quite jubilant style as they were neither afraid of the awarded death sentence nor they were in doubt that the death sentences could never be implemented due to influential families at their back and finally the same proved true.
Shahzeb was brutally murdered on Dec 25, 2012 and was son of an on duty deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Aurangzeb Khan, who had fought well with the legal procedures till the murderersof his young son were given the death sentence.
Before Shahzeb was gunned down, there was a fight between Shahzeb and Siraj Talpur after a servant of Talpur had teased Shahzeb’s sister, which was frequently repeated. In the meantime, Shahrukh Jatoi had reached the scene and pulled a gun and silenced Shahzeb for good.
The out of court settlement was although a legal right of the aggrieved family but it also was ashow of power politics and rule of money and power that dissipated a disappointing messageacross the country that those that had the influential and money at their back could do anything in this country.
The aggrieved family of Shahzeb had filed a written statement in the Sindh High Court mentioning that they had pardoned the murderers of Shahzeb
The ATC had awarded death sentences to Shahrukh Jatoi and Siraj Talpur while life imprisonment was awarded to 2 others. The main accused Jatoi had filed an appeal in the SHC against the sentence.
Shahzeb Khan’s parents, Aurangzeb and Ambreen Khan, have said that they have forgiven the accused “in the name of Allah”. The parents have also requested for their release.
