A local court in Faisalabad has given the death sentence to four police officials and imposed a fine of Rs one million on them for their involvement in a fake police encounter that happened six years ago in the Millat Town area of the city.
Additional and Sessions Judge Sajida Akhtar announced the verdict. The alleged encounter took place on August 8, 2018, at approximately 9:00 pm in Millat Town, Faisalabad.
The fake encounter resulted in the deaths of two people, Arsalan Liaquat and Usman Munawwar, under disputed circumstances.
The police officials convicted in the case include ASI Javed Akhtar, Head Constable Asghar Ali, Constable Falak Sher, Constable Faisal Rehman, and Police Qaumi Razakar employee Waqas.
However, the court acquitted an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) who was also nominated in the case due to a lack of evidence against him.
The court remarked that it found sufficient evidence to convict Asghar Ali, Waqas, Falak Sher, and Faisal Rehman, sentencing them to death and imposing a fine of Rs one million each.
The complaint was filed by Sajid Mahmood, a resident of Panjore, who nominated the police officials for killing the two boys.
The prosecution argued that victims Arsalan and Usman were riding a motorcycle and were on their way to Bagh Wali Pully near Millat Town after having shawarma when they were stopped by the police team, who then opened fire on them, resulting in their death.
After a six-year-long legal battle, the court ordered the immediate arrest of the four convicted officers, who were later sent to jail to serve their sentences.
The News report from 2018 says that the deceased were college boys and had no criminal record.
