Why was Farrukh Khokhar sentenced to life?

A Rawalpindi court on Tuesday sentenced Farrukh Khokhar and two other convicts to life imprisonment in the high-profile murder case of

RAWALPINDI: A Rawalpindi court on Tuesday sentenced Farrukh Khokhar and two other convicts to life imprisonment in the high-profile murder case of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist Majid Satti, bringing an end to a trial that lasted nearly four years.

The verdict was announced by Additional District and Sessions Judge Afshan Ejaz Safi after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. Shortly before the ruling was delivered, court officials ordered that Farrukh Khokhar be taken into custody to prevent any possibility of escape. Following the announcement of the verdict, he was handcuffed inside the courtroom and later shifted to Adiala Jail under strict security.

The court also handed life imprisonment to two other accused found guilty in the case. However, co-accused Waseem was acquitted after the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish his involvement in the crime.

Security was significantly tightened at the Rawalpindi judicial complex ahead of the hearing due to the sensitive nature of the case. A large contingent of police was deployed around the court premises, while supporters and relatives of both the victim and the accused gathered to witness the proceedings. Law enforcement officials conducted strict security checks before allowing entry into the courtroom.

According to the prosecution, Majid Satti was shot dead on August 23, 2022, after he attempted to stop the alleged illegal occupation of a plot of land. Investigators said he was ambushed by armed men riding motorcycles outside his business located on Sixth Road in Rawalpindi, within the jurisdiction of Sadiqabad Police Station.

Police stated that the attackers opened fire as Satti was leaving his business premises. Although he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg, he succumbed to excessive blood loss while being transported to a hospital. Investigators later collected forensic evidence, examined CCTV footage from the area, and recorded witness statements as part of the investigation.

The murder case was registered at Sadiqabad Police Station, and the trial continued for several years before the court delivered its final judgment.

Farrukh Khokhar is the son of the late Taji Khokhar, a well-known political figure in Rawalpindi who was regarded as a close associate of President Asif Ali Zardari. The victim, Majid Satti, was an active member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and his killing had drawn significant public and political attention at the time.