The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the appeal of a convict in the murder of his mother-in-law and father-in-law, upholding the life imprisonment awarded by the Lahore High Court.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar and comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim heard the case.
During the proceedings, Justice Kakar questioned the motive behind the broad daylight killings, asking: “If there was no quarrel between the husband and wife, why kill the in-laws?”
Justice Najafi noted that the convict’s wife had returned to her parents’ home following a disagreement. The convict’s counsel, Prince Rehan, argued that his client, Akram, had gone there to reconcile. To this, Justice Kakar quipped, “Counsel, you sound like a prince without a state.”
The judge further remarked, “He killed two people and now claims it was out of anger.” Justice Najafi added, “If he only intended to reconcile, why did he carry a pistol with him?”
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim also pointed out the tendency of complainants to exaggerate in FIRs, noting that the convict’s father had also been implicated. Justice Kakar observed that if FIRs always carried the full truth, “no criminal case would end in acquittal.”
The trial court had earlier sentenced Akram to death for the double murder, but the Lahore High Court commuted it to life imprisonment a decision now upheld by the Supreme Court.