LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has released its detailed written judgment dismissing the appeals filed by the convicts in the high-profile Motorway gang rape case, upholding the death sentences awarded to the two men.
The 17-page verdict was issued by a two-member bench headed by Justice Shehbaz Rizvi, reaffirming the trial court’s decision and emphasizing the gravity of crimes involving sexual violence against women.
In its judgment, the court observed that offences of this nature create widespread fear and insecurity in society, adding that unwarranted leniency in such serious crimes would undermine both justice and the rule of law.
“Crimes against women of this nature generate fear and a sense of insecurity in society. Any unnecessary leniency in such grave offences would be contrary to justice and the dignity of the law,” the court stated.
The bench highlighted the crucial role played by forensic evidence, particularly DNA analysis, in establishing the guilt of the convicts. It described DNA evidence as one of the most reliable scientific tools available for determining the truth in criminal investigations.
According to the judgment, blood samples collected from the crime scene matched the DNA profile of convicted offender Abid Malhi, while additional forensic evidence corroborated the prosecution’s case.
The court ruled that the convicts’ denial of the allegations could not outweigh the strong medical, eyewitness, and forensic evidence presented during the trial.
“The mere denial by the accused cannot override compelling medical, ocular, and forensic evidence,” the judgment noted.
The written decision further stated that the convicts had completely violated the victim’s human dignity and bodily autonomy, describing the offence as one of the most severe forms of sexual violence.
The judges remarked that the brutality of the crime had “shaken the conscience of the court” and contributed to fear, anxiety, and insecurity within society.
The judgment also emphasized the legal significance of the survivor’s testimony in rape cases. It noted that where a victim’s statement is supported by medical and forensic evidence, it carries exceptional evidentiary value.
The court observed that the survivor confidently identified both convicts during the trial and had also correctly identified them during the identification parade conducted during the investigation.
It further noted that the defence had raised no objections to the procedure followed during the identification parade.
Addressing the issue of victim privacy, the High Court stressed that the identity of survivors in rape cases must remain confidential under the law.
The judgment directed that a victim’s identity must not be disclosed under any circumstances and instructed trial courts to prevent questions during cross-examination that could reveal the identity of the complainant.
Medical examination of the survivor, the court said, confirmed evidence consistent with sexual assault and resistance. DNA recovered from the survivor’s clothing and other forensic samples matched both convicted offenders, providing additional support for the prosecution’s case.
The court also clarified that the absence of recorded statements from minor children present in the case did not weaken the prosecution’s evidence or affect the validity of the conviction.
Concluding its findings, the Lahore High Court upheld the death sentences awarded to Abid Malhi and Shafqat Baga, ruling that the evidence presented during the trial proved their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The court had announced the dismissal of the convicts’ appeals on June 3, 2026, while the detailed written judgment has now been released, outlining the legal reasoning behind the decision.
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