ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: A three-member bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence awarded by the Suppression of Terrorist Activities court to the killer of Agha-i-Sadiq Ganji, director of Khana-i-Farhang Iran,
Lahore, in 1990.
Dismissing a review petition filed by Haq Nawaz, sentenced to death, the SC refused to modify its earlier judgment passed on Dec 16, 1999. The counsel for Haq Nawaz said his client would now file a petition seeking President's mercy.
Ganji was murdered on Dec 19, 1990. Accused Haq Nawaz was awarded death sentence by the STA court on March 13, 1991. Five co-accused were awarded life imprisonment.
The Lahore High Court, which took nine years to decide appeals, had finally acquitted all those who were sentenced to life imprisonment by the STA court, but upheld the death sentence awarded to Haq Nawaz. In December 1999, a Supreme Court bench upheld the LHC decision.
Haq Nawaz had filed a review petition which was taken up for hearing by a three-member bench on Wednesday. After hearing one-hour arguments by Asghar Rokeri, counsel for Haq Nawaz, and Additional Advocate- General, Punjab,Yasmeen Shehgal, the court dismissed the review petition.
The bench consisted of Justice Bashir Jehangiri, Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmed and Justice Deedar Hussain Shah.
Another bench of the Supreme Court continued on Wednesday to hear appeals of the state and one Mohammad Asif, convicted of murdering six Iranian cadets in Rawalpindi in 1998.
The same bench, comprising Justice Abdur Rehman Khan, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, issued notice to the advocate-general, Punjab, to submit parawise comments on a report of Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Saleem.
Mr Saleem was directed by the court to meet the eight accused who were awarded death sentences on the charge of murdering Agha Syed Ali Rahimi, director of Khana-i-Farhang Iran, Multan.