An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Lahore sentenced to death six accused and handed life imprisonment to nine others in a case pertaining to the lynching of Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot.

According to details, the anti-terrorism court has awarded death sentences to six convicts, nine to life imprisonment, while 76 convicts have been awarded two years imprisonment.

According to Secretary Prosecution Nadeem Sarwar, 8843 witnesses were produced in the court, 88 accused were sentenced who were given full opportunity to defend themselves while one accused Bilawal alias Nadeem was acquitted.

Sarwar said that among those convicted, Umair, Taimur, Irshad, Ali Hasnain, Abu Talha and Abdul Rehman have been directed to be sentenced to death twice.

The investigation and trial were completed by a five-member team headed by public prosecutor Abdul Rauf Wattoo.

Last year, a brutal mob beat to death and set alight Priyantha Kumara, a 48-year-old Sri Lankan citizen and factory manager in Punjab’s Sialkot.

The incident saw widespread outrage and condemnation across Pakistan with politicians, scholars and civil society members calling for swift punishment to be meted out to the perpetrators.