SC acquits death-row convict after 11 years

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GEO NEWS
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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday acquitted a death-row convict after 11 years.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa acquitted Mohammad Anar was for lack of evidence.

A trial court had sentenced him to death for a murdering his lover's husband. The Lahore High Court converted his death sentence into life sentence.

In his remarks Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said that the statements of eye witnesses are unbelievable. "The eye witnesses lived two acres away from the scene of crime. How did they reach the spot? When they saw the crime why did not stop the murderer?" 

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked the High Court did not have the guts to acquit him. “It is unfortunate that no action was taken against the fake witness. In the sessions and high court records are scrutinized. That is why such cases appear.”

On November 25, the Supreme Court acquitted a murder convict Mazhar Farooq after 24 years.

In a similar case earlier this year, the Supreme Court in October, acquitted Mazhar Hussain after 19 years in jail for lack of evidence. Unfortunately, Mazhar died in 2014, two years before the SC verdict announced him innocent.

Law experts said that there is need to make amendments to the Criminal Code Law and action should be taken against the fake witnesses.