A Pakistani court has confirmed the death sentences of two individuals found guilty of gang-raping a French tourist in front of her three children. The Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed appeals filed by the convicted men, Abid Ali and Shafqat Ali, on June 3, 2026. This ruling upholds the sentencing issued by an anti-terrorism court back in 2021, which had found the defendants guilty of serious crimes including gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and related terrorism offences.

Details of the Incident

The case originated on September 9, 2020, when a woman of Pakistani origin travelling with her three children experienced a fuel shortage on the Sialkot-Lahore Motorway. While waiting for assistance late at night, the family remained inside their locked vehicle. Allegedly, the attackers broke a window, forced the woman out, and assaulted her at gunpoint in sight of her children. Reportedly, they robbed the family of cash, jewellery, and bank cards before escaping the scene.

Law enforcement conducted a swift investigation following the appalling act. Using mobile phone data and DNA evidence collected from the crime scene, authorities were able to identify and apprehend the suspects shortly after the incident. The female victim subsequently identified both assailants during legal proceedings. In a significant reveal, one of the convicts, Shafqat Ali, allegedly confessed to the crime before a magistrate.

In March 2021, an anti-terrorism court convicted the two men, sentencing them to death, along with additional life imprisonment and other jail terms. The severity of the crime spurred considerable public protests and outcry, particularly after controversial remarks by the then Lahore police chief, Umer Sheikh, who suggested that the victim should not have been travelling alone at night.

Legal Arguments in the Lahore High Court

In its appeal, the defence team for Abid Ali and Shafqat Ali argued that there were purported inconsistencies and weaknesses in the prosecution case. Their lawyers claimed that the evidence presented was unreliable and called for the court to overturn their convictions. However, prosecutors countered these claims by asserting that the evidence against the defendants was robust and compelling.

The court was urged to consider the thorough review undertaken by the anti-terrorism court before the initial verdict was reached. According to reports from the Pakistani media outlet Dawn, the judges ultimately agreed with the prosecution’s stance, finding no grounds to overturn the convictions. This decision reinforces the legal framework applied in dealing with such severe criminal acts and reflects society’s indignant response to the assault.

The upheld convictions indicate a significant step towards justice for victims of gender-based violence in Pakistan. Following the 2020 incident, a national dialogue concerning women’s safety on the roads and the adequacy of law enforcement responses has intensified, highlighting the ongoing struggle against such heinous crimes.

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