PAKISTAN: DEATH SENTENCE REDUCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

a division bench of the Lahore High Court in Pakistan, consisting of Justice Tariq Shamim and Justice Saifur Rehman, reduced the death sentence of three robbers, including two women, to life imprisonment. A trial court sentenced the accused to two-years rigourous imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,000. The bench observed there was no such provision under Section 377-J of the Pakistan Penal Code. An additional session judge sentenced the accused to death on December 24, 2005. Meraj Bibi, Mumtaz Bibi and Asif Raza were found guilty of murdering Riffat Ara Saigal, injuring her daughter Dr Tayyaba Munir, and looting articles from the victim’s residence.