A sessions court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for the murder of a transgender person in 2022.
The additional sessions judge (West) found Muhammad Nouman guilty of stabbing Majid Saeed Mughal to death in the Shershah area on September 1, 2022.
“However, question [of] quantum of punishment arises, whether accused may be awarded capital punishment or life imprisonment. It has time and again been reiterated by the Honourable Apex Court that while death sentence is a usual penalty in case of Qatl-e-Amd, life imprisonment being legal punishment may be considered,” the judge noted in his written order.
“Accused Muhammad Noman is young man having no previous criminal record. In such circumstances having regard facts and circumstances of the case I am of the view that element of mitigating circumstances exits, therefore, instead of awarding death sentence it is more appropriate to award imprisonment for life, hence, accused Muhammad Noman is awarded sentence viz. imprisonment for life,” he ruled.
The judge also ordered the convict to pay compensation of Rs500,000 to the legal heirs of the deceased and in case of default, he shall suffer additional six months imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, on September 1, 2022, complainant Rashid Saeed recorded his statement at the Shershah police station, stating that he resided along with his family in the Shershah area. He said that he was a driver by profession. He said that on that day, he was present at his home when the door of the house was knocked by some boy who informed him that his bother Majid Saeed Mughal had been murdered in the Street 46 Waqas Building near the Toor Masjid, Shershah, with dagger blows.
He said his brother was residing there for last seven to eight years and serving to shemales. On receipt of such information, the complainant said that he along with his brother Sajid Saeed rushed to the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, Karachi, and saw that the dead body of their brother was lying in the hospital.
