Tuesday: Supreme Court acquits Shahrukh Jatoi and others involved in Shahzeb Khan murder case.
The three-member bench comprised of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, and Justice Muzahir Naqvi heard the case.
Latif Khosa, lawyer of Jatoi, has said that his client client was “languishing in jail for the last eight years” despite reaching an agreement with the victim’s family.
Shahzeb Khan’s family is currently residing in Australia.
In 2012, Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) had awarded death penalty to Jatoi as well as his accomplices Siraj Ali Talpur for murdering Shahzeb Khan. Talpur’s younger brother and domestic helper were also handed life sentences.
However, Shahzeb Khan’s parents ‘pardoned’ Shahrukh Jatoi under the Qisas and Diyat law in 2017 and the family filed an affidavit with the court. The Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice of the fact and Jatoi’s death sentence was changed to life imprisonment by Sindh High Court.
Although the death penalty was upheld due of the addition of terrorism charges involved in the case, up SHC dropped the charges and a retrial was ordered in the case.
In today’s court hearing, Khosa told the three-member bench that both parties have already reached a settlement in the case and his client had no plans of spreading terror.
Pakistan’s Twitter is in disbelief at the conclusion and criticism is pouring in from everyone.
Sham laws, sham trials and shambolic conclusions.
— Abdul Moiz Jaferii (@Jaferii) October 18, 2022
Mahira Khan and Haroon Shahid react after Supreme court acquits Shahrukh Jatoi others in Shazeb murder case.#MahiraKhan #HaroonShahid #ShahrukhJatoi pic.twitter.com/py4Cklsw3X
— Pakistani Cinema (@PakistaniCinema) October 18, 2022
Really should break down all jails in Pakistan and save the taxpayers money. All criminals are out anyway. Shameful #ShahrukhJatoi
— AHI (@aamnaisani) October 18, 2022
The rich of our country making a mockery of our justice system,one case at a time.
— MAWRA HOCANE (Hussain) (@MawraHocane) October 18, 2022
We are all unsafe,it’s every one for themselves.
No law is protecting us anymore because God forbid we find ourselves in such a situation the only question is,are we POWERFUL ENOUGH?#ShahrukhJatoi
Till our laws won't change we can only do so much as a society and concerned citizens. From #ShahrukhJatoi to #JamKarim, the rich and powerful exploit provision of compromise in our legal system to get away with murder of the weak & poor. #JusticeForShahzeb #JusticeForNazimJokhio
— M. Jibran Nasir 🇵🇸 (@MJibranNasir) October 18, 2022
• J in Pakistan stands for justice!
— Mariyam Nafees Amaan (@MariyamNafeees) October 18, 2022
#ShahrukhJatoi