Three spared death sentence after 19 years in Pakistan jail

Three people have been spared death sentences after spending over 19 years in a Pakistan prison.

Asma Nawab, her friend Farhan and their associate Jawaid were convicted of the murder of her parents and brother in Karachi in 1998.

The prosecution claimed the trio had killed her relatives due to the alleged opposition to Asma and Farhan’s proposed marriage.

The defendants appealed against the Sindh High Court’s ruling of capital punishment. The Supreme Court ruled that the evidence in the case was insufficient and ordered their acquittal.

The presiding judge remarked that “the accused persons were behind bars for last 20 years which is itself a punishment”.