Ex-judge sentenced to death in murder case

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court here on Saturday handed down death penalty to a former district judge, Sikandar Lashari, in a case pertaining to the murder of his fellow judge’s son in Hyderabad. 

The then district and session judge Mithi, Sikandar Lashari, was among half a dozen accused charged with the murder of 19-year-old Aqib Shahani, son of judge Khalid Hussain Shahani on February 19, 2014.

He was taken into custody on March 5 after the Sindh High Court suspended him from his post.

According to the case (FIR 12/2014) lodged on a complaint of the deceased’s cousin Hunain, Aqib, alias Kashif, was driving his car when armed men in another car intercepted him on Thandi Sarak, Hyderabad.

They took him out of his car and sprayed him with bullets. He was shot dead in front of his mother, Shamsunissa, sisters, Komal and Nimra, and a cousin, Hunain, near Niaz Cricket Stadium on February 19, 2014.

The FIR was registered at GOR police station under sections 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 6/7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The former judge was charged with allegedly instigating the killing since the deceased was reportedly in love with one of his daughters, according to the prosecution.

A number of accused had been declared proclaimed offenders in the case.