The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has rejected the appeals of three key convicts, including Ghulam Rasool alias Choto, the ringleader of the notorious ‘Choto Gang from Rajanpur’, and upheld their six death sentences.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Hashim Kakar, and comprising Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar, heard the appeals filed by the accused.
After reviewing the rulings of the trial court and the High Court and examining all available evidence, the court dismissed the appeals. It upheld the six death sentences awarded to Ghulam Rasool alias Choto, Ishaq and Khalid, while maintaining the life sentences of the remaining convicts.
During the hearing, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar remarked that the gang had effectively become the “king” of its area, to the extent that police stations had been shut down due to their terror.
Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim added that ordinary cases of personal enmity could not be compared to the crimes of a terrorist group like the Choto Gang.
The prosecution informed the court that the gang had kidnapped 24 police personnel after the police ran out of ammunition during an encounter. The situation had become so severe that the Pakistan Army had to be called in to rescue the hostages.
Responding to the defence lawyer’s claim that the officials had returned to the boat on their own and were unharmed, Justice Salahuddin Panhwar sarcastically asked whether the kidnapped officers had gone to attend a festival, adding that it was fortunate they had been left alive.
The defence also questioned how the accused were identified by their nicknames in the FIR. In response, Additional Prosecutor General Punjab, Rai Akhtar Hussain, stated that the accused already had prior criminal records with the police, leaving no ambiguity regarding their identities.
The case was registered at the Uch Police Station in the Rajanpur district. The accused were charged with killing six policemen, injuring seven others, and holding 24 police personnel hostage for several hours. The charges also included terrorism and possession of explosives.
Read more: IHC to hear PTI Founder’s X account case on Monday
