Death Penalty Confirmed for Men Convicted in Gruesome Gang Rape

Six years after a brutal gang rape of a French tourist in Pakistan, the death sentences handed down to two men for the crime have been upheld. Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali were convicted in March 2021 of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism offenses stemming from the horrific attack on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway. Both men appealed their convictions, but their appeals were dismissed on Wednesday.

The prosecution successfully argued that there was substantial evidence pointing to the guilt of both Malhi and Ali. The devastating assault occurred on September 9, 2020, when the victim and her three children were stranded on the motorway outside Lahore due to a lack of fuel. According to reports, the attackers broke into the locked vehicle, dragged the woman out, and sexually assaulted her at gunpoint in front of her terrified children. The perpetrators also stole valuables, including money, jewelry, and bank cards, before fleeing the scene.

Investigation and Conviction

Following the incident, the traumatized survivor provided police with descriptions of her assailants. Investigators utilized mobile phone data to track down and arrest Malhi and Ali days after the attack. DNA evidence collected from the crime scene reportedly matched that of the accused. During court proceedings, the survivor identified both men, and Ali subsequently confessed to the crime before a magistrate. An anti-terrorism court expedited the trial in 2021.

The case garnered significant international attention and condemnation on social media platforms. Public outcry also fueled mass protests across Pakistan, particularly after a senior police official questioned the victim’s decision to be traveling late at night with her children. His remarks were widely criticized as victim-blaming.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

The decision to uphold the death penalty follows calls from human rights advocates for stricter penalties against perpetrators of sexual violence. While sexual abuse against women is unfortunately common in Pakistan, such crimes against foreign nationals are less frequent.

Many Pakistani women hesitate to report sexual assault due to societal stigma, and perpetrators often evade justice due to perceived weaknesses in the legal system and investigative processes. Pakistan is known to be among countries with a high rate of capital punishment, with executions carried out by hanging.