ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday commenced hearings on a set of appeals challenging the death sentences awarded to members of the notorious ‘Chotu’ gang, which operated in the riverine “Katcha” area of Rajanpur and was infamous for kidnapping for ransom, extortion, dacoities, and murder.
The appellants were convicted of killing six police officials and taking several others hostage during an operation launched by police on April 13, 2016.
The appeals were filed by a number of convicts, including Ghulam Rasool alias Chotu, Ishaq, Nadir and Qasim against the confirmation of their death sentences by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Sept 12, 2024. Earlier, the capital punishment was handed out to the convicts for committing murder by Anti-Terrorism Court-I, Multan.
Through the appeals, the convicts have sought to set aside the convictions and death sentence.
A two-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan and comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, postponed further proceedings until April 7, 2026, due to the unavailability of the third member of the bench, Justice Shakeel Ahmad.
The adjournment was necessitated because the case was originally scheduled before a three-judge bench, but was later reconstituted.
On Thursday, Punjab Additional Prosecutor General Rai Akhtar Hussain represented the prosecution, while Advocate Sardar Usman Khosa represented the petitioners.
During the hearing, Justice Malik Shahzad observed that a two-judge bench could not hear the case since it involved the death penalty.
Rai Akhtar Hussain highlighted that the appellant convicts were members of the infamous Chotu gang. At this, Justice Malik Shahzad recalled that the gang had been infamous in Punjab, but remarked that the Crime Control Department (CCD) might have eliminated most of the criminals by now.
The counsel representing the appellants, however, requested the court to adjourn the proceedings until the following Tuesday or, if that was not possible, to fix a date during the month of Ramazan, describing it as a blessed month and noting that Pakistan had won the World Cup during the same month in 1992.
Justice Aqeel Abbasi told the counsel to refrain from mentioning the World Cup. Justice Malik Shahzad quipped that some people found references to the World Cup unpleasant.
The counsel replied that the Champions Trophy had also been won during Ramazan in 2017.
Earlier, the LHC, in its judgement authored by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, recalled that gangs such as the Sikhan Gang, Indhar Gang, Changwani Gang and Chotu Gang, along with several hardened and desperate proclaimed offenders armed with sophisticated weapons, had posed a significant challenge to local authorities and local law enforcement agencies.
These gangs targeted numerous civilians, creating fear among the local population and consolidating their influence.
In his judgement, Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan observed that anti-state activities were rising day by day as criminals were taking the law into their own hands. Such elements were damaging the fabric of society and, therefore, must be dealt with an iron hand.
Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026
