LHC confirms death sentences of convicts in motorway gang rape case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentences of two men convicted in the 2020 Lahore-Sialkot Motorway gang-rape case, saying the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through ocular, medical and forensic evidence.

In a detailed judgment, the court confirmed the capital punishment awarded to Abid Ali, also known as Malhi, and Shafqat Ali, also known as Bagga, while rejecting their separate criminal appeals. A two-member bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa had already dismissed the appeals through a short order on June 3, 2026. The written judgment was issued later.

The bench also upheld the mandatory capital sentence reference and turned down the Punjab government’s request to enhance the life imprisonment handed down to the convicts under Section 365-A of the Pakistan Penal Code for kidnapping for ransom.

According to the prosecution, the case stemmed from an incident on Sept 9, 2020, when a Pakistani-origin French woman was travelling with her children on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. Her vehicle reportedly ran out of fuel during the early hours, leaving her stranded. The prosecution said two armed men then approached, broke the car window, dragged the woman and her children away, subjected her to gang rape and robbed her of cash, jewellery, ATM cards and other valuables before fleeing.

Gujjarpura police registered the FIR after the incident, which caused widespread outrage across the country.

Police later arrested the accused after an investigation involving the Crime Investigation Agency, Punjab Forensic Science Agency and other law enforcement agencies. The prosecution said forensic, DNA and other scientific evidence linked the men to the crime.

An anti-terrorism court convicted both men on March 20, 2021, on multiple counts under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Along with the death penalty for gang rape under Section 376(ii), the trial court awarded them life imprisonment under Section 365-A, 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment for robbery, five years for mischief causing damage, and ordered payment of compensation to the victim. Their properties were also forfeited to the state.

Before the high court, defence lawyers argued that the prosecution case contained contradictions and that the evidence was unreliable. They sought acquittal, saying the charges had not been proved beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecution maintained that the victim’s account remained consistent and was strongly supported by medical examinations, DNA analysis, forensic reports, recoveries and other circumstantial evidence gathered during the probe.

After reviewing the record, the LHC said the victim’s statement was trustworthy and strongly corroborated by scientific and medical evidence. It observed that the discrepancies highlighted by the defence were minor and did not affect the core of the prosecution case. The court also held that the trial court had properly appreciated the evidence and that no legal error had been shown to justify interference.

In strong remarks, the judgment said the convicts had shown disregard for human dignity, bodily autonomy and the sanctity of womanhood. It said crimes of this nature have consequences beyond the individual victim, leaving families and the wider public feeling unsafe while travelling on motorways, roads and highways. The bench said any leniency in such cases would undermine deterrence and public confidence in justice.

The court ultimately maintained all convictions and sentences, confirmed the death penalties through the capital sentence reference and rejected the provincial government’s plea for hars