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Pakistani-origin TikTok influencer Mahak Bukhari, who has been serving a prison sentence in the UK alongside her mother for the 2022 deaths of two young Pakistani men, has filed a request for a reduced sentence. Mahak Bukhari, who has been incarcerated since 2023, was sentenced to 31 years and 8 months in prison, while her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, received a 26-year, 9-month sentence. Both were convicted for their involvement in a fatal road accident that led to the deaths of 21-year-olds Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin.

According to the charges, Mahak Bukhari and her mother, along with accomplices, pursued the young men’s car in an effort to intimidate them over a personal dispute. The chase ended in a collision that resulted in the tragic deaths of both men.

In a recent court hearing, Mahak Bukhari’s legal team requested a reduction in her sentence, arguing that the situation had not been premeditated as a murder. Her lawyer presented the case that Saqib Hussain had been blackmailing and threatening Mahak’s mother, Ansreen, over an affair. The defense also argued that Mahak’s age and the fact that she was in a vulnerable position at the time of the incident should be taken into consideration. They described the sentence as “unfair.”

However, the prosecution strongly opposed the appeal, contending that if Mahak’s mother had been threatened, she should have reported it to the police, which could have prevented the deaths. They urged the court not to reduce Mahak’s sentence.

The court, consisting of Lord Justice Warby, Justice Lavender, and Judge Sylvia, heard both sides and has reserved its decision, which will be announced at a later date. The case has gained widespread attention due to its tragic circumstances and the involvement of a well-known social media figure.

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