Pakistan court upholds death sentences in 2020 gang-rape case; Elon Musk reacts

Pakistan's Lahore High Court has upheld the death sentences for two men convicted in a brutal 2020 gang-rape case. The horrific attack on a French-Pakistani woman and her children on a motorway sparked national outrage. Billionaire Elon Musk's praised the verdict and hailed Pakistan, saying that this is what should be done in the West.

A strong reaction from billionaire and world's richest man Elon Musk, has drawn global attention after a Pakistani court upheld the death sentences of two men convicted in a brutal gang-rape case involving a French-Pakistani woman. Musk reportedly praised the development, saying “Bravo Pakistan" and "this is what we should be doing in the west" as the verdict made headlines worldwide.

ALSO READ: How California techie supplied US equipment to Iran for over a decade

The case, which dates back to 2020, has remained one of Pakistan’s most disturbing and widely discussed criminal trials, sparking debates on women’s safety, justice, and legal enforcement.

Elon Musk’s Reaction Goes Viral

Elon Musk’s reaction quickly spread across social media after reports of the upheld verdict surfaced. The billionaire entrepreneur is said to have welcomed the decision and reacted with the phrase “Bravo Pakistan", drawing widespread attention online.

ALSO READ: “Islam-friendly” gym in Kerala’s Palakkad?

In a post on X, UK's independent MP Rupert Lowe posted a screenshot of a news that said a Pakistani court has given orders to execute Pakistani nationals accused of gang-raping a French woman and captioned it, "Some good news to come out of Pakistan."

Live Events

Replying to Lowe in the same post, Musk said, "Bravo Pakistan! This is what we should be doing in the West."

Court Upholds Death Penalty in High-Profile Case

The Lahore High Court has upheld the death sentences awarded to two men convicted of gang-raping a woman in front of her three children on a motorway in Punjab.

The court rejected appeals filed by the convicts and confirmed the earlier ruling of an anti-terrorism court.

According to court findings, the attackers broke into the stranded family’s vehicle after the woman’s car ran out of fuel, dragged her out, and committed the assault at gunpoint before fleeing with valuables.

The verdict has now brought legal closure to a case that triggered nationwide outrage and protests.

The Horrific 2020 Motorway Attack

The crime took place on September 9, 2020, on the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway. The woman, who was travelling with her three children, had stopped after running out of fuel. She remained inside her locked vehicle while waiting for assistance.

However, the attackers smashed a window, forced her out, and assaulted her in front of her children at gunpoint. They also stole cash, jewellery, and bank cards before fleeing the scene.

Investigators later arrested the accused using mobile phone data and DNA evidence, which played a crucial role in securing their conviction. The incident triggered widespread protests, with demonstrators demanding justice for the victim and strongly condemning comments made by Punjab police officials that were widely viewed as shifting blame onto her.

Protesters also called for the removal of lead investigator Omar Sheikh, after he suggested that “our society does not permit women to be out late at night alone,” a remark that sparked public outrage.

Trial, Conviction and Appeals

In 2021, an Anti-Terrorism Court sentenced both men to death after finding them guilty of gang rape, kidnapping, robbery, and terrorism-related offences.

The convicts later challenged the verdict in the Lahore High Court, arguing procedural gaps and contesting the trial court’s interpretation of evidence. However, the appellate court dismissed all arguments and upheld the original punishment, reinforcing the severity of the crimes committed.

(With TOI inputs)