Karachi: In a landmark verdict delivered after six long years, an Additional District and Sessions Judge (West) in Karachi has sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for dousing his wife with petrol and setting her ablaze over a missing gold earring.
The prosecution successfully presented its case, leading Additional District and Sessions Judge Ameeruddin to pronounce the 12-year jail term for the accused, identified as Mehtab.
In addition to the imprisonment, the court also imposed a “diyat” (blood money) penalty on the convict. Mehtab has been ordered to pay the victim’s family Rs. 5,000 per month for a period of five years.
The court, in its judgment, emphasized the case’s significance in highlighting the urgent need to eradicate gender-based violence. It further stated that the judiciary plays a crucial role in such incidents. Notably, the dying declaration of the deceased was considered a key piece of evidence in the case.
According to the prosecution’s account, the tragic incident stemmed from a dispute between the victim and her husband regarding a lost gold earring. The husband allegedly poured petrol on his wife, while her father-in-law, identified as Zulfiqar, ignited the fire. The victim’s brother, upon arriving at the scene, rushed her to the hospital. Sadly, she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
During the trial proceedings, the victim’s father-in-law, Zulfiqar, passed away. Police had registered a case against the accused at the Mominabad police station. This long-awaited verdict serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic disputes and the importance of holding perpetrators of such heinous crimes accountable.
Awesome