• October 8, 2013
• Freedom of Expression, Front Page
• Web Desk

Abdul Razzaq Jaura, reporter of Royal TV news channel, was murdered on November 3, 2008. According to First Information Report (FIR) Jaura, along with his two brothers was on his way to Mianwali City on a motorcycle when he was shot by the accused.

Police arrested two suspects, Munir Hussain and Riaz Ahmad on November 11, 2008. They were tried for murder in the District and Sessions Court Mianwali. On October 12, 2009 the Court convicted Hussain, sentencing him to death while acquitting Ahmad due to lack of evidence.

Hussain subsequently appealed to the Lahore High Court against his conviction while Taj Muhammad, the brother of the deceased; appealed against the acquittal of Ahmad and for imposing a higher amount of compensation.

On October 7, 2013, the court heard the appeals together and dismissed both of them. The Court, however, commuted the death sentence awarded to Hussain to life imprisonment, in accordance with section 374 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C).

According to section 374 of the (Cr.P.C), a death sentence awarded by the Sessions Court has to be submitted to the high court for confirmation before it can be carried out.

He is currently serving her term at Central Jail, Mianwali.

Jaura had received multiple threats to his life and is believed to be targeted due to his reporting on the local drug trade. Jaura’s brother Muhammad stated in the FIR that the motive of the killing was to take revenge as the deceased had helped police in carrying out a raid on the accused.