Speeding driver sentenced to jail, Rs19.34m diyat for boy’s death

GUJRANWALA: A Model Court convicted a driver of causing the death of a 12-year-old boy through rash and negligent driving and sentenced him to imprisonment besides ordering him to pay Rs19.34 million as diyat and Rs50,000 as compensation.

Model Court Judge Shehzad Mushtaq pronounced the verdict against Muhammad Jameel, a resident of Tandlianwala, Faisalabad, after finding the prosecution case proved against him.

The case relates to the death of Abdul Rehman, son of Dr Asghar Mughal, a resident of Jagnah. According to the case record, the boy had gone to buy yogurt when he was hit by a speeding vehicle near Iftikhar Shaheed Galla.

The child suffered serious injuries in the accident and died four days later while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Following the incident, the victim’s father pursued the case and collected evidence in an effort to establish the circumstances leading to his son’s death. The matter subsequently proceeded before the Model Court.

After examining the evidence and hearing arguments from both sides, the court convicted Jameel and awarded him imprisonment along with payment of Rs19,343,542 as diyat and Rs50,000 as compensation.

Talking to reporters after the verdict, Dr Asghar Mughal said the decision had provided justice to his family and described it as a victory for truth.

He said, however, that the convict had challenged the verdict before the appellate court. “We will decide our further course of action after the appeal is decided,” he said.

The verdict comes as courts continue to deal with cases involving fatal road accidents and allegations of rash and negligent driving, with victims’ families often pursuing lengthy legal proceedings to seek justice.