Child rapist sentenced to death.

KARACHI -- An antiterrorism court (ATC) awarded death sentence to an accused in a five-year-old case pertaining to rape of a minor girl.

Amjad Ali alias Zakir was found guilty of raping a minor girl within the jurisdiction of Shah Latif Town police in 2017.

The judge of ATC-V, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his verdict which had earlier been reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge ruled that the accused 'Amjad Ali, alias Zakir, without any shadow of doubt is convicted under the Section 376(3) of the Pakistan Penal Code'.

The judge further ruled that 'he is hereby, sentenced to death ... under intimation to this Court'.

However, the death penalty is subject to confirmation by Sindh High Court, as provided under the Section 376 (power to High Court to confirm sentence or annul conviction) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Therefore, the trial court directed the office to send record of proceedings of the case to the SHC in terms of Section 25 (2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 for confirmation of the death sentence as required under the Section 374 (sentence of death to be submitted by Court of Session) of the Cr.PC.

In the meanwhile, the convict can also file an appeal with the high court against his conviction.

Witnesses summoned in four other cases

The same court summoned witnesses for recording their testimonies against the accused, Amjad, in four other cases pertaining to sexually abusing four minor girls in different areas of Malir.

It also directed the prosecution to ensure presence of the witnesses while the investigating officers were told to produce case properties on the next date of hearing.

According to the prosecution, police claimed to have...