Motorway Rape Case: Pakistan’s justice system lauded after judgments upheld

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s justice system has faced international scrutiny since the upholding of convictions in the 2020 Lahore-Sialkot Motorway rape case that had sent shockwaves across the nation.

The case has also been referenced by prominent figures, including billionaire Elon Musk, in conversations about criminal justice and accountability.

The Lahore High Court has just dismissed the appeals of the two convicted men and upheld the sentences handed down by the trial court including life imprisonment and other sentences.

It is being regarded as a major development in one of Pakistan’s most high-profile criminal cases.

LHC Upholds Convictions in 2020 Motorway Rape Case, Rejects Appeals

Earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed appeals filed by two men convicted in the 2020 Lahore-Sialkot Motorway rape case, upholding the sentences awarded by an anti-terrorism court.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa announced the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. The court maintained the convictions and sentences handed down to Abid Ali alias Malhi and Shafqat Ali alias Bagga by an anti-terrorism court in March 2021.

The convicts had challenged the trial court’s decision, arguing that flaws in the prosecution’s case raised doubts about their involvement and that the sentences were excessive. However, the prosecution maintained that substantial evidence supported the convictions and urged the court to uphold the verdict.

The case sparked nationwide outrage in September 2020 after a woman of Pakistani origin residing in France was assaulted in front of her children on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway after her vehicle ran out of fuel. The incident led to widespread calls for stronger action against sexual violence and reforms in law enforcement.