SHC takes notice of 'unique punishments' by trial courts

KARACHI: While taking notice of a trend of awarding unusual punishments by trial courts, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought an explanation from relevant district and sessions judges in this regard, ARY News reported.

The SHC has noted that such out of book sentences violate the fundamental rights. These punishments are not according to the law, which will bring a bad name to the judiciary, the court added.

Of late, a judicial magistrate in Karachi handed down an unusual punishment to a man for hitting and injuring a traffic warden with his motorcycle in a road mishap. He was ordered to stand at a traffic signal once in a week for a year holding placard against speed driving.

District East Judicial Magistrate XXVIII Shaoib Elahi had ruled that Muhammad Qasim, the convict, would hold a placard inscribed with the message, “Ahtiat Kijye! Ghaflat aur Laparwahi se gari chalana jan lewa hai” (Be careful! Driving recklessly and negligently can have life-threatening consequences) every Friday for two consecutive hours.

Earlier this week, Additional District and Sessions judge Karachi East Haleem Ahmed ordered a convict found guilty of possessing an illegal weapon to offer the compulsory five-time prayers in congregation for three years.