The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted a man who spent 12 years in jail on murder charges, citing insufficient evidence from the prosecution to uphold the conviction.
The case originated in 2010, when Aijaz was accused of murdering the husband of his co-accused, Nasim Akhtar. The prosecution alleged that Aijaz electrocuted and shot the victim, claiming that the motive stemmed from an illicit relationship between Aijaz and Akhtar.
Key testimony came from the victim’s brother, who asserted that he witnessed the crime and caught Aijaz in the act. However, the Supreme Court identified discrepancies in the testimonies and evidence presented.
The court noted that while the complainant asserted knowledge of the alleged relationship between Aijaz and Akhtar, he had not personally witnessed it. Additionally, there was no record of the victim himself filing any complaint regarding the purported affair.
The Supreme Court expressed astonishment at the lower court’s conclusion of an illicit relationship without substantial evidence. It further highlighted that despite the incident occurring in broad daylight, no independent witnesses corroborated the complainant’s narrative.
Upon examining the records, the court found indications that Akhtar had been pressing her husband for a share in his family’s inheritance, leading to speculation that the victim’s death might have been a suicide, as argued by the defense.
After a thorough review, the Supreme Court acquitted both Aijaz and Akhtar, emphasizing that the prosecution had failed to establish their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This decision underscores the court’s commitment to justice and adherence to the principle of requiring robust evidence to convict individuals accused of serious crimes.
