Two men handed death penalty for sexual harassment in GB

KARACHI: An Anti-terrorism Court (ATC) in Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday sentenced to death two accused - Mazhar and Tajammul for subjecting a teenager to sexual harassment.

The court also sentenced lifetime imprisonment to another accused named Mubarak Ali son of Ghulam Mehdi resident of Krismathung Skardu, in the same case.

In July, local police took into custody the three accused for sexually harassing a teenage boy Shujaat for consecutive six months in Skardu-Baltistan and filming the 'unnatural offence.

They were tried by the court established under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). First Information Report (FIR) No-54/20 was registered in City Police Station Skardu, the capital of Baltistan.

Police had recovered many videos of sexual intercourse from the possession of the accused Muzafar Abbas, son of Ghulam Abbas, Mubarak Ali, son of Ghulam Mehdi and Tajamul Hussain, son of Mosa Ali, residents of Krisma Thang Olding," SP had said.

While quoting the victim Shujaat Ali's father Asghar, son of Naseeb Ali, a permanent resident of Union Council Gultari Shakhma, the SSP Skardu Muhammad Ishaq had told Business Recorder that the accused sexually assaulted his teenage son and filmed the crime and used it to blackmail the child, besides taking money from him for the last five to six months.

The distressed boy who used to work in a vegetable shop attempted to commit suicide after being subjected to the crime, this extreme step led to know his parents the actual case.

The boy was also receiving life threatening calls from the accused. the accused had also physically tortured and extorted money, threatening the child with releasing of a video clip of him being sexually harassed.

The victim family had urged the court to ensure speedy justice, besides punishing the accused as early as possible.

The family had also requested the force commander Gilgit-Baltistan, and 62 brigade District Skardu to play their role to ensure justice. A JIT was formed to assertain the case. However, the case was moved to ATC.

The court's decision, a copy of which available with Business Recorder stated "accused Muzafar Abbas son of Ghulam Abbas and Tajamul Hussain son of Musa Ali Nasir residents of Krismathung Skardu have been convicted under section 365-A PPC while altering setion 365 PPC into 365-A PPC under section 227 Cr.PC and sentenced them to death."

The above named accused have also been convicted under section 377 PPC read with section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 and sentenced them tor life rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs. 10,000,00/- (Rupees ten hundred thousand only) each to be paid to the victim shujaat Ali.

It said the accused Muzafar Abbas has also been convicted under section 367 PPC and sentenced him for ten (10) year rigorous imprisonment.

Accused Muzafar Abbas has also been convicted under section 506 (ii) PPC and sentenced him tor three (3) year rigorous imprisonment.

Accused Muzafar Abbas has also been convicted under section 384 PPC and sentenced him for three (3) year rigorous imprisonment.

Accused Mubarak Ali son of Ghulam Mehdi resident of Krismathung Skardu has been convicted under section 377/34 PPC and sentenced him for life imprisonment and fine of Rs. 500,000/- (Rupees Five hundred thousand only) to be paid to the victim Shujaat Ali.