Murder accused released from jail after 21 years

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GEO NEWS
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Murder accused released from jail after 21 years

SHEIKHUPURA: Mazhar Farooq, a murder accused declared innocent by Supreme Court, has been released after 21 years from jail on Monday.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court presided by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard Mazhar Farooq’s murder case on November 25 and stated that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence. Declaring that the pistol presented as evidence did not belong to the accused, the apex court ordered the release of Mazhar Farooq.

A trial court had sentenced Mazhar Farooq to death for a 1992 murder in Kasur. The High Court had also maintained the death sentence.

Who is Mazhar Farooq?

When the case began, Mazhar owned 200 acres of land. His land was sold as the family followed the case in different courts over the past 21 years.

A much older Mazhar now suffers from respiratory and chest infections which he contracted during his time in jail.

His land was sold as he and his family were fighting the cases against him in the courts. Mazhar’s father, Farooq, was a local landlord.

Mazhar now suffers from respiratory and chest infections which he obtained during his time in jail.

Not the first case

In a similar case, 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.

The court observed that severe punishment should be awarded to the person who recorded false testimony in the case.

Mazhar, a resident of Lahore, was convicted by a Sessions Court and later the High Court, for murdering Muhammad Ismail in 1997.

His family, speaking at Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada kay Sath show said that they had only found out about the SC verdict when they watched television.