Lahore High Court bench to hear appeals in Sialkot lynching case

LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – A two-member bench has been constituted to hear the appeals filed by convicts sentenced in the high-profile Sialkot lynching case.

The bench, headed by Justice Syed Shehbaz Rizvi and joined by Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa, will begin proceedings tomorrow (Tuesday).

Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan national employed as a factory manager, was brutally murdered on December 3, 2021 by a mob in Sialkot following blasphemy allegations. The incident drew national and international condemnation, leading to swift investigation and trial proceedings.

The trial court had declared a total of 89 individuals guilty in connection with the killing. The sentences ranged from the death penalty to life imprisonment, along with shorter prison terms for dozens of others.

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Among the convicts, six men – Muhammad Hameer, Taimoor Ahmad, Muhammad Irshad, Ali Hussnain, Abu Talha and Abdul Rehman – were each handed two death sentences. In addition, they were ordered to pay Rs200,000 in compensation to the heirs of Priyantha Kumara.

Nine other convicts – including Roohail Amjad, Muhammad Shoaib, Ehtisham Zaib, Imran Riaz, Sajid Amin, Zaigham Mehdi, Ali Hamza, Luqman Haider and Abdul Saboor – were sentenced to life imprisonment. Each was fined Rs200,000 and also directed to pay Rs200,000 in compensation to the victim’s family.

The remaining 74 individuals were sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment. Having served their terms, they have since been released from jail.

Following the verdicts, appeals were filed by the convicts sentenced to death and life imprisonment. In response, the Lahore High Court has now formed the special two-member bench to hear these appeals. Notices have been issued to both the prosecution and defence counsel for tomorrow’s hearing.