A Karachi court sentenced Atif Zaman to two death penalties on Thursday for the murders of Mureed Abbas and Khizr Hayat [1], [2].
The verdict concludes a high-profile legal battle that spanned seven years [1]. The case drew significant attention due to the professional standing of the victims, one of whom was a prominent television anchor.
The court found Zaman guilty of the killings of Abbas and Hayat, a businessman [2]. The crimes occurred in 2019 [1], sparking a prolonged judicial process to determine the culpability of the defendant.
According to court records, the trial lasted seven years before the final judgment was delivered on July 9, 2026 [1], [2]. The judge awarded two death sentences [1] to address the dual fatalities resulting from Zaman's actions.
The proceedings in Karachi focused on the evidence linking Zaman to the 2019 deaths [2]. The double death penalty serves as the maximum punishment under the law for such crimes in Pakistan.
“A Karachi court sentenced Atif Zaman to two death penalties”
The sentencing of Atif Zaman marks the end of a lengthy judicial process for a case that highlighted the vulnerability of media personalities in Pakistan. By awarding two separate death sentences, the court has applied the maximum legal penalty, reflecting the gravity of the double homicide and the duration of the trial.
