A Pakistani high court has upheld the death sentences of two men convicted in the 2020 gang rape of a French tourist on a motorway near Lahore, rejecting their appeals and leaving the original convictions in place.
The Lahore High Court ruled on Wednesday that Abid Ali and Shafqat Ali will remain under sentence of death after they challenged a 2021 judgment from an anti-terrorism court that found them guilty of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery and terrorism-related offences, says the BBC.
The case goes back to September 9, 2020, when a French woman of Pakistani origin was travelling with her three children along the Sialkot–Lahore Motorway. The vehicle reportedly ran out of fuel during a late-night journey, leaving the family stranded by the roadside.
According to investigators, the woman stayed inside the car with her children while waiting for assistance. The attackers allegedly smashed a window, forced their way into the vehicle, dragged her out and assaulted her at gunpoint in front of her children. The group stole cash, jewellery and bank cards before fleeing the scene.
Authorities said the suspects were identified within days after investigators used mobile phone location data and DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. One of the men, Shafqat Ali, also reportedly confessed before a magistrate during proceedings.
The survivor later identified both defendants during court hearings. Based on the evidence presented, an anti-terrorism court convicted the pair in March 2021 and imposed death sentences along with additional prison terms.
During the appeal process, the defence argued that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution's case and that the evidence was not reliable enough to sustain the convictions. Lawyers for the two men asked the court to overturn the verdict.
Prosecutors countered the case with strong forensic and digital evidence, and said the trial court had properly evaluated the material before issuing its ruling.
The Lahore High Court ultimately sided with the prosecution and dismissed the appeals, according to Pakistani media outlet Dawn, confirming the original sentences.
The case sparked outrage in Pakistan at the time, with protests especially by women and widespread criticism of remarks made by then Lahore police chief Umer Sheikh, who questioned why the victim had been travelling at night and suggested she should have taken a different route.
The Lahore High Court ruled on Wednesday that Abid Ali and Shafqat Ali will remain under sentence of death after they challenged a 2021 judgment from an anti-terrorism court that found them guilty of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery and terrorism-related offences, says the BBC.
The case goes back to September 9, 2020, when a French woman of Pakistani origin was travelling with her three children along the Sialkot–Lahore Motorway. The vehicle reportedly ran out of fuel during a late-night journey, leaving the family stranded by the roadside.
According to investigators, the woman stayed inside the car with her children while waiting for assistance. The attackers allegedly smashed a window, forced their way into the vehicle, dragged her out and assaulted her at gunpoint in front of her children. The group stole cash, jewellery and bank cards before fleeing the scene.
Authorities said the suspects were identified within days after investigators used mobile phone location data and DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. One of the men, Shafqat Ali, also reportedly confessed before a magistrate during proceedings.
The survivor later identified both defendants during court hearings. Based on the evidence presented, an anti-terrorism court convicted the pair in March 2021 and imposed death sentences along with additional prison terms.
During the appeal process, the defence argued that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution's case and that the evidence was not reliable enough to sustain the convictions. Lawyers for the two men asked the court to overturn the verdict.
Prosecutors countered the case with strong forensic and digital evidence, and said the trial court had properly evaluated the material before issuing its ruling.
The Lahore High Court ultimately sided with the prosecution and dismissed the appeals, according to Pakistani media outlet Dawn, confirming the original sentences.
The case sparked outrage in Pakistan at the time, with protests especially by women and widespread criticism of remarks made by then Lahore police chief Umer Sheikh, who questioned why the victim had been travelling at night and suggested she should have taken a different route.
