A Pakistani court has sentenced a member of the paramilitary Rangers force to death for the killing of an unarmed man in June, in what was a rare rebuke to the powerful security establishment.
The anti-terrorism court also sentenced five other Rangers and a civilian to life imprisonment. It imposed a fine of 200,000 rupees (£1,420) on the Ranger receiving the death penalty, and 100,000 rupees each on the others.
The killing, which happened in Karachi, was caught on video (warning: highly disturbing content) and broadcast on television, deepening anger against security forces already tarnished by their failure to detect the US commando raid in which Osama bin Laden was killed in May.
The shooting of Sarfaraz Shah, who was unarmed, also triggered criticism of Pakistan's human rights record and its unpopular government, which many say has failed to rein in the police and army.
The footage showed the Rangers shooting Shah at close range in a public park in Karachi named after the assassinated Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The civilian who was sentenced to life is seen grabbing Shah by the hair and dragging him over to a group of Rangers. Shah pleads for mercy before one of the soldiers shoots him twice. Shah then falls to the ground in a pool of blood while the soldiers stood around him.
"We have found justice. The court has given the right decision," the prosecutor, Muhammad Khan Buriro, said.
Salik Shah, a brother of the victim, said: "We are satisfied with the punishment, and we hope that the higher courts will also keep them and overturn the appeals of the accused."
A lawyer for the convicted Rangers said they would appeal against their sentences.
While commonly seen as part of the military establishment, the Rangers are directly controlled by the civilian government.
Pakistanis have traditionally been wary of criticising the army and its powerful intelligence service. "I would like to say that it was the personal action of the soldiers involved, and not an act by the Rangers," Buriro said.
In an unusual move by civilian authorities, however, the country's highest court ordered the transfer of the director general of the Rangers in Sindh following the killing. In another rare sign of public accountability, a naval official said last week that three senior Pakistani naval officers would face courts martial on charges of negligence in connection with the attack on Bin Laden's compound in May.
Source: The Guardian, August 12, 2011
Sarfaraz Shah murder: One handed death penalty, others given life imprisonment
KARACHI: The Anti-Terrorism Court hearing the murder case of Sarfaraz Shah sentenced to death the Rangers official who shot the youth, while six others were given life imprisonment on Friday.
According to Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso who delivered the verdict, Shahid Zafar, the Rangers official who shot the youth, will be hanged. The other five accused personnel and one civilian Asfar Khan, have been given life imprisonment.
Express 24/7 correspondent Ahmed Jung reported that it is presently unclear if the defence counsel will appeal the verdict.
Sentenced and fined
AFP reported that the Rangers official who was handed the death penalty has also been fined of Rs200,000 ($2,300).
“The crime of killing Sarfraz Shah has been proved against you and I announce the death sentence and also impose a fine of Rs200,00.” said Khoso, addressing Zafar.
He handed life terms to five other Rangers personnel and Asfar Khan who had accused Shah of robbery and dragged him over to them. The judge ordered each to pay Rs100,000 to the victim’s family.
Reactions
The family of Shah, including his brother Salik Shah were present during the hearing, where slogans of “justice has been done” were shouted.
Roznama Express correspondent Shakir Sultan reported that the convicted men say they prayed all night long, and are fasting.
Talking to the media, the victim’s brother thanked the Chief Justice of Pakistan for taking suo motu notice of the incident.
He also urged the High Court to uphold the Anti-Terrorism court’s verdict if and when the convicts approach it.
He also said the police tried hard to save the culprits, adding that he however trusts the court.
The victim’s parents also seemed content with the verdict. His mother said the person who dragged Sarfraz to the Rangers should also be given death sentence.
She also requested the High Court to uphold the anti-terrorism court’s verdict.
Background
Shah was shot at point blank range in the Benazir Bhutto park in an incident filmed live and broadcast on television. Footage of the incident, filmed by an Awaaz TV cameraman, was broadcast repeatedly on local television stations.
In it, a Rangers official can be seen dragging the boy, then throwing him towards half a dozen armed comrades, one of whom then shot the youth twice at point-blank range as he begged for his life.
The five Rangers were subsequently arrested and taken to the Rangers headquarters and Jinnah Court in Karachi.
Source: The Express Tribune, August 12, 2011
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