The Lahore High Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentences of two men convicted of raping a French woman at gunpoint in front of her children on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway in Pakistan's Punjab province in 2020, rejecting their appeals against the trial court's verdict.
Background of the Case
The case had triggered outrage across Pakistan after the woman was assaulted on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway in September 2020. The incident led to widespread protests, with demonstrators demanding justice for the victim and criticising remarks by Punjab police officials that were widely seen as blaming her for the attack. Protesters were calling for the sacking of lead police investigator Omar Sheikh, who had blamed the victim for the incident, saying that "our society does not permit women to be out late at night alone."
Court Ruling
"The Lahore High Court today dismissed appeals of the two men convicted in infamous rape case of the French woman of Pakistani-origin in 2020 in Lahore and upheld the trial court's verdict of awarding them death sentences," a court official said. The victim, a 32-year-old mother, was travelling with her three children when her vehicle ran out of fuel near Lahore. According to investigators, two armed men forced their way into the car, robbed the family and took the woman to a nearby field, where she was raped at gunpoint in front of her children.
Sentencing and Appeals
In March 2021, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore sentenced the convicts, Abid Ali alias Malhi and Shafqat Ali alias Bagga, to death. The court also imposed life imprisonment and several additional jail terms. Both men challenged the ruling later that year. A two-judge bench comprising Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi and Justice Tariq Mehmood Bajwa delivered the verdict after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence.
Reactions and Protests
The initial incident had sparked massive protests across Pakistan, with many demanding justice for the victim and accountability for police officials who made insensitive remarks. The case highlighted issues of women's safety and victim-blaming in Pakistani society. The upheld sentences have been welcomed by activists and the victim's family, who hope it serves as a deterrent against such heinous crimes.
