SC signals landmark verdict in patricide clemency case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has indicated it will deliver a “historic” and potentially far-reaching judgment on April 8 in a high-profile case involving a man convicted of murdering his own father, ARY News reported.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar heard the plea of convict Muhammad Safdar, who has sought remission of his sentence on the basis of a reported reconciliation between the parties.

The defense counsel informed the court that a formal settlement had been reached and submitted on record, adding that the convict has already served 14 years in prison and should be released.

However, Pakistan’s apex court bench expressed strong reservations over granting relief in such a grave matter.

Justice Kakar remarked that even 24 years of imprisonment would be insufficient punishment for someone who had killed his father.

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He emphasized the need for a broader legal framework to address cases of this nature, stating that the court would deliver a ruling “that will shake Pakistan.”

Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim echoed similar concerns, noting that while Islamic legal provisions such as Qisas and Diyat allow for forgiveness by the victim’s family, such mechanisms should not result in a “clean acquittal” in cases involving extreme moral and social gravity, such as patricide.

The bench underscored that its forthcoming decision would aim to establish a lasting legal precedent, potentially reshaping how courts in Pakistan handle similar cases in the future.

The hearing was adjourned until April 8, when the court is expected to announce what it described as a significant and precedent-setting judgment.