The convictions of Baitullah and Gul Siddique in the murder case involving Major Mohammad Laraib of the Special Services Group (SSG) were overturned by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday.
The appeals filed against the conviction of both accused were accepted by the IHC division bench, which was made up of Justices Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Arbab Mohammad Tahir.
On November 21, 2019, Major Laraib was shot and killed while waiting for his friend in Sector G-9 in Islamabad. A month after the crime was committed, police found the suspects by tracking their cell phones.
In December 2020, Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Mohammad Ali Warriach sentenced Baitullah to death while giving Siddique a life sentence.
While pointing out significant flaws in the inquiry, the IHC bench overturned their conviction.
According to the investigation, Baitullah provided information that enabled the authorities to find the gun during his physical detention. The weapon used to perpetrate the crime was identified by forensic tests as identical.
According to the evidence provided by the deceased’s friend’s testimony, Major Laraib had picked her up from her hostel before taking her to the F-9 Park and then for coffee.
The friend of the major claimed that two suspects approached while they were in the park and one of them demanded that the army officer “give up anything he possesses.”
The major received two kicks from Baitullah, who also demanded his wallet. She disclosed that after Major Laraib protested, Baitullah fired at him.
