World

Pakistani Soldier Sentenced to Death Over Shooting Unarmed Youth as He Begged for Mercy

Pakistani Karachi Ranger Sentenced to Death Shooting Killing Unarmed YouthKARACHI, Pakistan (The Blaze/AP) — A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced to death a soldier who shot and killed an unarmed youth as he was begging for mercy – an incident that was caught on videotape and repeatedly broadcast on TV, triggering unusual public anger at the country’s powerful military.

Five other soldiers and a civilian who were present during the June killing in a park in the southern city of Karachi were also convicted of murder and handed life sentences.

The verdicts were a rare instance of Pakistani security forces being held publicly accountable over human rights abuses, which are allegedly widespread. The killing came at a time of heightened public criticism of the army over its failure to detect or stop the unilateral May 2 U.S. raid that killed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, and added to its humiliation.

Pakistani Karachi Ranger Sentenced to Death Shooting Killing Unarmed Youth

Sarfraz Shah, 18, was shot on June 8 after being detained by a group of Pakistani Rangers. A local TV journalist caught the incident on tape. The footage drew public fury, and the suspects in the case were quickly arrested and put on trial.

In a brief session at the anti-terror court that heard the case, Judge Bashir Khoso told the seven men they were guilty of murder and read out the verdicts.

The men were grim-faced, but otherwise did not react. Shaukat Hayat, the lawyer for Shahid Zafar, who was sentenced to death, said he would appeal.

Below is the chilling video of the incident. Warning it contains disturbing content:

Salik Shah, the victim’s eldest brother, burst into tears after hearing the verdict.

“I am satisfied with the verdict,” he said later, outside the court. “It would somewhat console our sentiments that the murderers of my brother have been sentenced appropriately.”

Officials at the time said Shah was picked up in the park on suspicion of robbery; some accounts have said he was carrying a replica or toy pistol.

The video footage shows him unarmed surrounded by the Rangers. At one point, he moved toward one of them with his arms outstretched, but he was pushed back, then shot twice in the hand and leg. While on the ground, he begged the Rangers to take him to a hospital, but they stood by as he writhed in an expanding pool of blood.

Shah was eventually taken to a local hospital and died shortly thereafter from blood loss.

Pakistani Karachi Ranger Sentenced to Death Shooting Killing Unarmed Youth

Pakistani security forces are often accused of using excessive force and killing unarmed civilians, typically those suspected of being criminals or militants. The criminal justice system in Pakistan is inefficient and conviction rates are very low, meaning officers sometimes kill suspects rather than try to prosecute them, human rights activists said.

Human Rights Watch welcomed the verdicts.

“One hopes that the verdict will go some way in arresting the impunity with which Pakistan’s trigger-happy security and paramilitary agencies perpetrate abuses,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, the group’s Pakistan director.

Pakistan rarely executes people sentenced to death, and life sentences usually are 15 years. Executions that do take place are carried out by hanging.

Pakistani Karachi Ranger Sentenced to Death Shooting Killing Unarmed Youth

Euronews provides an additional report of the sentencing:

Comments (90)

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  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:28pm

    This is great news. Two muslims down. 1 Billion to go.

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
  • julia
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:27pm

    Oh how heartbreaking, God bless that young man and his family

    Report Post »  
  • AB5r
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:15pm

    Christians are treated extremely badly in Pakistan and in every other country with Muslims in control. Their experiences don’t make it to video. Take people like those in this video and ADD to that their feelings of SUPERIORITY as Muslims – per the Koran over all non-Muslims, especially Jews and Christians, and you can just imagine how evil it is for non-Muslims in those lands. Police will “accidentally” let Muslim criminals out if they are accused of hurting Christians, or the police will just look the other way as Muslim mobs attack and destroy Christians and their property. But in the West Christians couldn’t care less. But they will care as Muslims are allowed to continue to immigrate and spread in the West.

    Report Post » AB5r  
  • olderjarhead
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:56pm

    Don’t think that we are not one contrived “National Emergency” from this same thing happening right here. Never, ever trust the government!

    Report Post »  
  • Glenn in Virginia
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:56pm

    This is one of those incidents that inclines one to say, “Thank God for modern technology and thank God for the Internet.

    Kudos to Al Gore for inventing the infernal thing!

    Report Post »  
  • Ookspay
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:51pm

    I know, I know let’s send them another 50 billion dollars so they can re-train their ploice force. We can just borrow more from China.

    Report Post » Ookspay  
    • Unstable Phenomenon
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:04pm

      You said another 50 billion to re-train, but you forgot the first 50 billion was used to hide osama bin laden. The next 50 billion obama sends them will be to actually train them better to hide the next terrorist so we won’t find them the next time. Get it straight. lol.

      Report Post » Unstable Phenomenon  
  • JDam
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:46pm

    Nobody stops to think about the little things taking place in the video. The kid puts his hand on the barrel of the rifle, walks towards the shooter. Agreed that the soldier overreacted, but part of the blame rests on the kid. You don‘t grab a soldier’s weapon, you don’t walk towards the soldier. Begging for mercy, yet conveying the body language this kid portrayed is an oxymoron.

    Emotions were heated, the kid didn’t submit, the soldier over reacted. I don’t think the verdict is right, but it was done out of publicity of the incident. The government had to find the soldier guilty for their international image.

    Report Post » JDam  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:56pm

      He probably knew he was going to cop a bullet no matter what he did, I suppose you know how to react when someone menacingly points a gun at your face.

      Report Post »  
    • JDam
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:06pm

      Yeah, you submit or suffer the consequences. Kid didn’t submit and suffered the consequences. Soldier reacted poorly, but within common sense. You are a soldier confronted with an individual grabbing your gun and walking towards you. I think the majority of people would also shoot the kid if they were in the middle of that incident.

      Report Post » JDam  
    • olderjarhead
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 10:07pm

      O.K. – with 5 guys pointing rifles at you, you would feel threatened? Go do another bong!

      Report Post »  
    • AB5r
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 8:50am

      You are analyzing the situation from the Western perspective where we “still” have a largely orderly society. That orderly rule of law allows someone confronted by armed police to stay calm, to know that if they act rationally everything will go fine. But in countries controlled by Islam that does not hold. They are largely chaotic. Some may recall seeing videos of so-called “Palestine” where an ambulance pulls up to a hospital, there isn’t the orderly attendants carefully rolling the patient in, rather it is chaos with all sorts of people running around putting a hand on things as if trying to help, getting pushed out of the way, etc. etc. This person knew from experience that he had to beg for his life, and who knows what was said that contributed even more to that. It did seem crazy for him to approach them and grab at their guns, but he wasn’t dealing with people he could reason with. Allah of the Koran (who is not the God of the Bible) is capricious, Muhammad was as well, and those examples affect how those in authority act in societies controlled by Islam.

      Report Post » AB5r  
    • swampbuck
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:28am

      agreed..

      Report Post » swampbuck  
    • givemelibertyorgivemedeath
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 10:01am

      He grabbed the gun because he knows these soldier’s history. He knew he was going to be shot either way–and he would have been. That guy was ready to kill. No doubt.

      Report Post » givemelibertyorgivemedeath  
  • itsmyfirstday
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:43pm

    Peaceful religion you got there…

    Report Post » itsmyfirstday  
  • Veritas
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:42pm

    THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!!! I would rather live in a constitutional republic where I am judged by a group of my peers rather than strung up or shot by the posse!!

    Report Post » Veritas  
    • ConservativeFirst
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 9:55am

      How right you are! I bet most of the United States Population doesn’t know the difference.

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:41pm

    Trash shooting trash. Let them kill each other….less for us to have to kill one day.

    Report Post »  
  • SgtBarrett
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:22pm

    That attitude makes you just like the murderer in the video, makes my stomach turn to know there are Americans who think like they do. Stop it please! Humans made by God deserve justice. Shooting them all is not justice. Justice does not shoot blind even though it is blind.

    Report Post » SgtBarrett  
  • mikenleeds
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:21pm

    they look like some of our American cops

    Report Post » mikenleeds  
  • Captain Crunch
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:21pm

    Coming soon to a US street near you.

    Report Post »  
    • SgtBarrett
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:33pm

      There are some in the Unions who would love to see this happen to conservatives all over this country. There are many, many hate filled thugs in the Unions, whether its labor unions or government unions, they are everywhere mixed in there. Good Democrat people stand beside them and are duped.

      Report Post » SgtBarrett  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on August 13, 2011 at 1:00am

      I’m a member of a union. I know exactly what you are talking about. Some of my union “brothers” are very scary people who it is best to stay far away from.

      Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:16pm

    The guy that shoot him was trying to hit him in the groin. First he points the rifle at the upper body and then lowers the rifle and points it at the groin. That’s why the guy bends over. He’s shot in the hand and leg as he is trying not to be shot in the groin. Wish I had a translation of what is being said. But, is is apparent that the military guy was going to shoot him in the groin. Watch the video. I‘m surprised the judge didn’t sentence him to be castrated first before the execution. Steal a loaf of bread and it’s off with your hand. Take a man’s manhood….well, I guess he only tried since he missed. It’s a surprising judgement for that region of the World. Usually nothing happens.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • ramburner
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:13pm

    And that country has nukes? Yes, I agree, an uncivilized lot of people. But I also agree that we should return to swift justice such as hanging or shooting for those convicted of capital offenses. We play too long and make nice with those who would rather feed and house our criminals. Being PC has no weight any longer. The prison system is over crowded and we must send a message to those who would be offenders. That message is made clear with swift and sure justice.

    Report Post »  
  • JQCitizen
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:13pm

    It is upon seeing this that the true meaning of American Exceptionism is felt. THIS is what is meant by the term.

    Do most of us in this nation really understand what it means to wake up every day in a nation where whatever the Powers-that-Be want to do to us, they CAN? Perhaps some who grow up in drug-infested homes, or Satan-worshipping families feel that trapped, but most of us enjoy our freedom and have NO DAILY REMINDER of how Exceptional it is in this world.

    May we wake-up, and as the military do, “RE-UP” against the VERY REAL CHALLENGES to this freedom that are licking at our heels EVEN TODAY.

    Report Post »  
  • grabyrgun
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:04pm

    has anyone asked what the ‘youth’ was accused of? or are we just going to let our emotions rule the day and believe once again what the MSM (yes, that means you, blaze) tells us?

    Report Post »  
    • JayCee
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:18pm

      From the article above –

      Officials at the time said Shah was picked up in the park on suspicion of robbery; some accounts have said he was carrying a replica or toy pistol.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:20pm

      @grabyrgun
      This is what the article said….
      “Officials at the time said Shah was picked up in the park on suspicion of robbery; some accounts have said he was carrying a replica or toy pistol.”
      And you can see in the video, as a man takes him to the guys with guns that he is carring a red bandana and what looks like a gun. You know, something to cover your face with and a weapon.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • chips1
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:58pm

    Can their wives start dating or do they have to wait a couple weeks? Their HOT!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Msgt Ret
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:58pm

    Brittish Police…take note, this may be the answer to your problems.

    Report Post » Msgt Ret  
    • SgtBarrett
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:30pm

      Sir, there is a far cry between the youth on the streets of GB and this poor youth. London youths are displaying themselves as living, breathing wastes of flesh who want to hurt others and steal from innocent bystanders. This boy happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he was a true terrorist, then the video would have made them heroes instead of criminals.

      I think you take this poor boys death too lightly. An innocent unarmed boy died right there on camera.

      Report Post » SgtBarrett  
  • blue_sky
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:56pm

    ==================================================================
    BREAKING NEWS: FOX has just removed its OWN poll (yet again) where RON PAUL won in most States.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1R7Nal3cAA
    ==================================================================

    Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:36pm

      And what does this have to do with this story?

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 12, 2011 at 9:52pm

      Looks fake to me because most of the States only show 3 people getting any votes at all. Nice try!

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Live_Free_orDie
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:56pm

    And so….We’re the evil Infidels??? How come the lame stream media isn’t all over this?

    Report Post » Live_Free_orDie  
  • FlatFoot
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:53pm

    The soldier will never be put to death. It is nothing more, at all, than a show for the rest of the world who also saw the tape… as if they have somehow become civilized overnight. They’re mud hut dwelling blood thirsty savages. The lot of them. They always will be.

    Report Post » FlatFoot  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:49pm

    I wonder if he is going to spend 10 to 15 years in prison until all his appeals go through or if they just take them to the execution chamber right now? If it happened over here I know it would at least that long before anything happened to him. But it seems they got the verdict right anyway.

    Report Post »  
  • Secret Squirrel
    Posted on August 12, 2011 at 8:40pm

    .
    Don’t tell me that Pakistan has morals?

    Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
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