Priyantha Kumara lynching: Pakistan awards death sentence to 6, hands life imprisonment to 7

An anti-terrorism court on Monday (18) awarded death sentences to six and handed life imprisonment to seven as it announced its verdict in Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara’s lynching case, reported Pakistan Media.Kumara was lynched by a mob comprising hundreds of protesters, including the employees of the factory in Sialkot he was the manager of, on December 3rd 2021.The mob had tortured him to death and later burnt his body.A first information report was registered against 900 workers of Rajco Industries on the application of Uggoki Station House Officer Armaghan Maqt under sections 302, 297, 201, 427, 431, 157, 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 7 and 11WW of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Scores of suspects were arrested in the following days.The incident had seen widespread outrage and condemnation across Pakistan with politicians, scholars and civil society members calling for swift punishment to be meted out to the perpetrators.“The prosecution team presented a total of 43 witnesses in order to prove the crime against suspects,” Punjab Prosecution Department Secretary Nadeem Sarwar said in the press conference today, adding that forensic, audio and video evidence was also used to prove the crime.“In less than a month, the prosecution completed the testimonies of witnesses.

After that, the court gave them full chance to defend themselves. Today, the ATC Gujranwala, upon the crime being proven, has punished 88 accused while one has been acquitted.“This is a very good day as the law punished those who took away an innocent life.

It is now hoped that the elements spreading religious extremism will be dealt in the same manner.”The ATC had indicted 89 individuals on March 12.