Two female students sentenced to death for seminary teacher’s murder

A trial court in Dera Ismail Khan sentenced three students for the murder of a female seminary teacher in March 2022. Two received the death penalty, while the third, a minor, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Additional session judge Muhammad Jameel announced the verdict and imposed a fine of Rs2 million each on two women sentenced to death while the young girl, facing life imprisonment, was fined Rs1 million.

According to the prosecution, the 18-year-old female teacher was stabbed by women as she arrived at the seminary. She succumbed to her injuries at the institute's gate, with her throat slit open.

The incident took place at 7am on March 29, 2022 at Madrassah Jamia Islamia Fallah Al-Banat of Dera Ismail Khan.

Public prosecutor Tanseer Ali, along with advocate Haji Shakeel, appeared on behalf of the prosecution, whereas advocate Asad Aziz represented the accused.

The police informed that the murder stemmed from a religious disagreement between the teacher and her attackers. The accused are reported to have claimed that the teacher, Safoora Bibi, had committed blasphemy.

The convicted individuals include two sisters and their cousin, who attended a different religious seminary. 

Details from the FIR revealed how the three young women - Umra Aman, 24, Razia Hanifia, 21, and Aisha Noman, 17, attacked the teacher at the school entrance. They first used a stick and then stabbed her in the neck. 

According to the FIR, the suspects committed the crime as their 13-year-old relative saw the victim insulting their religion in her dream. Police also recovered a knife and a stick from the accused individuals.