An additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) in Rawalpindi on Thursday sentenced a man to death for beheading an elderly man inside a mosque following a brawl. ADSJ Afshan Ijaz Sufi convicted Mian Muzamil Hussain for the murder of 72-year-old Chaudhry Abdul Farooq and handed down the death penalty. The judge also ordered the convict to pay Rs1 million as compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased. If the compensation is not paid, the amount will be recovered as arrears of land revenue.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on February 9, 2024, at a mosque in Airport Housing Society. Chaudhry Bilal Farooq, son of the deceased, filed an FIR with Saddar Berooni police. He stated that around 6:45am, he received a call from people at the mosque informing him of an issue involving his father. Upon arriving at the mosque, he found his father's dead body with his neck completely severed by a sharp-edged instrument. The complainant noted that they had no enmity with anyone and that witnesses would be presented later.
Sequence of Events
According to a police officer familiar with the case, a mentally ill woman carrying a kitchen knife entered the mosque during Fajr prayer. She attacked Abdul Farooq, who overpowered her. Meanwhile, Muzamil, the woman's father, entered the mosque searching for his daughter. Seeing Abdul Farooq overpowering her, he attacked the 72-year-old with the knife, severing his head from his body.
Legal Proceedings
The court found Muzamil guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs1 million as compensation to the victim's family. The case highlights the swift legal action taken in cases of violent crime. The police officer confirmed the details of the incident to The Nation.
