Umar vows Satto will be brought to trial, meted out harshest punishment

Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer has said that Ali Shan (Satto), who was found not guilty of premeditated murder of Dr. Afrasheem Ali, would be brought to trial and meted out the harshest punishment possible.

Only Hussein Humam was found guilty of murdering the popular Islamic scholar and politician.

He was served the death sentence over the murder, which will be carried out through hanging within if/when Supreme Court rules in support of the verdict.

Home Minister’s statement comes amid rumors that Shan and his friends were pressuring the government to remove the tag on his leg.

Umar said during an exclusive interview on Sunday that Shan had actively participated in murdering Afrasheem.

“He is one of the people who planned it. He instructed Humam to stab him with the knife. He was there during stabbing. But he escaped prosecution because there was only one witness to testify he was there,” said Umar.

Afrasheem was murdered sometime between 11:30 pm on September 30, 2012 and 2 am on October 1, 2012.

Umar said that Shan escaped punishment because there had not been enough evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt in court that he was involved in the premeditated murder of Afrasheem.

Umar said that there was, however, enough evidence with police too prove Shan’s involvement.

He said that Shan would be brought to trial as soon as police received enough evidence to prosecute him.

“Satto can be convicted even now if Humam reveals what really happened. It is our hope that Humam tells us. Because Humam will be spared the hanging only if (Afrasheem’s) family forgives him. They cannot forgive unless he says what really happened,” said Umar.

He said that people expressing disapproval of the tag on Shan’s leg had no idea who he really was, and what he was capable of.

He said that people would say he should have been strapped with a monitoring device long before, if only they knew.

“We will catch him and bring him to trial yet. He will be given the harshest punishment by the state. No one can escape my clutches,” said Umar.