A Pakistani court has upheld the death sentences of two men convicted of gang-raping a French tourist in front of her three children after her car ran out of fuel on a motorway near Lahore.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed appeals filed by Abid Ali and Shafqat Ali. The two men had challenged a 2021 anti-terrorism court verdict that found them guilty of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery and terrorism-related offences.
The decision means the death penalty handed down by the trial court will remain in place.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE MOTORWAY?
The case dates back to September 9, 2020, when a French woman of Pakistani origin was travelling with her three children on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway.
Her vehicle reportedly ran out of fuel during a late-night journey, leaving the family stranded on the roadside.
According to investigators, the woman remained inside the vehicle with the doors locked while waiting for assistance. The attackers allegedly smashed a window, dragged her out of the car and raped her at gunpoint in front of her children.
The men also robbed the family of cash, jewellery and bank cards before fleeing.
DNA AND PHONE DATA CRACKED THE CASE
The hunt for the attackers lasted only days. Investigators used mobile phone data to narrow down their search and later relied on DNA evidence from the crime scene to link the suspects to the assault.
Investigators said the survivor later identified both men during legal proceedings. One of the convicts, Shafqat Ali, also reportedly confessed before a magistrate. Based on the evidence, an anti-terrorism court convicted the pair in March 2021 and handed them death sentences along with life imprisonment and additional jail terms.
The crime prompted widespread protests and anger. Outrage intensified after comments made by then Lahore police chief Umer Sheikh, who questioned why the woman had been travelling at night and said she should have taken a different route.
In the appeal in Lahore High Court, the convicts had argued that there were weaknesses and inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. Their lawyers claimed the evidence was unreliable and urged the court to overturn the convictions.
However, prosecutors told the court that the case against the two men was backed by strong evidence. They argued that the trial court had carefully examined all available material before delivering its verdict in 2021.
According to reports from Pakistani media outlet Dawnthe judges agreed with the prosecution’s arguments and dismissed the appeals.
– Ends
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