Lahore High Court Upholds Death Penalty of Chhotu Gang Members
The Lahore High Court’s Multan Bench upheld the death penalty of 11 members of the notorious Chhotu gang, including its leader Ghulam Rasool, in a 2016 case. This case involved the martyrdom of six police officials, injuries to seven others, and the hostage-taking of at least 24 individuals by the gang.
A division bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry decided the appeals of the convicted gangsters, who were sentenced to death in 2019 by a trial court. The appeals of the convicted individuals were dismissed, while eight others were acquitted.
The court heard arguments from the Additional Prosecutor General and reviewed the FIR which detailed the violent encounter between the police and the gang members. Hand grenades and modern weapons were recovered from the gang’s possession.
In a separate case, the Lahore High Court dismissed a Punjab government appeal regarding appointments and transfers in King Edward Medical University. A stay order against these actions was upheld, emphasizing the autonomy of the university in making such decisions.
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Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2024