We will never forgive the killers: family

The family of the two lynched brothers from Sialkot, Hafiz Mughees and Muneeb Butt, said it would not patch up or agree to a compromise with convicts or their families after the announcement of the detailed verdict of the Sialkot lynching case by an Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday. The family was addressing a press conference at Sialkot Press Club Sialkot at noon. Family members said there would be “no compromise.” Uncle to the two brothers Khawaja Muhammad Amjad said no compromise will be agreed either in the present or the future in the gruesome case since it would amount to trading their children.
“We will never forgive the convicts,” he said, “time has proven our boys were innocent.” Threats:Amjad also said the family was being threatened by unknown accused claiming to belong to the Buttar village. He demanded protection from the Punjab government. He said the Sialkot lynching case had proven the judicial system had lacks which should be removed. The counsel for the family, Dr Shakeel Thakur Advocate criticised the Sialkot SP (Investigation) Nasir Muneef Qureshi for engaging in the character assassination of the victims’ family despite the case being under trial in ATC. He demanded that the provincial government immediately dismiss the SP (Investigation) Sialkot since he had labeled the lynched brothers ‘dacoits’ in a TV interview without court permission while the case was l under trial. He said the families will submit a petition before the LHC on the matter. Shakeel also strongly criticised Federal Information Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on behalf of the victims’ family for allegedly character assassination. He asked Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan to tender an apology to the family on the matter.
Earlier, after the ATC declared the Sialkot lynching case verdict, their family told Pakistan Today the verdict was not only for the lynched brothers, but for Pakistani society. They thanked media for raising the issue, which led to the Supreme Court Chief Justice taking suo motu notice of the incident. The family claimed threats and harassment over the last year. Commenting on the right to appeal of the sentenced, they said they would hold a press conference to discuss the future course of action.