Pak Teen Gets 100-Year Jail Term For Killing 4 Family Members Over PUBG Game

A Pakistani teenager has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the murder of four family members in a rage connected to online gaming.

A court in Lahore on Wednesday handed down the century-long sentence to 17-year-old Zain Ali, who killed his mother, brother, and two sisters in 2022. The ruling also included a fine of PkR 4 million.

Additional Sessions Judge Riaz Ahmed delivered the verdict after reviewing evidence and witness testimonies presented by prosecutors. Due to the defendant's young age, the judge structured the sentence as four consecutive life terms—25 years for each murder victim.

According to court records, Zain Ali, who was 14 at the time of the killings, resided in Lahore's densely populated Kahna area. He was described as a passionate PUBG player who spent most of his time engaged in the online game, frequently facing criticism from his mother, Nahid Mubarak, for what she considered wasted time.

Police testified that Ali would become increasingly aggressive after failing to meet in-game objectives. On the day of the tragic incident in 2022, "Zain Ali lost his senses after he missed a target while playing the game for hours and also got a snub from his mother," according to police statements presented in court.

The teenager then obtained his mother's pistol and entered her bedroom where she was sleeping alongside his two sisters. He fatally shot his 45-year-old mother, his 20-year-old brother Taimur, and his two sisters—15-year-old Mahnoor and 10-year-old Jannat.

Investigators noted the murders appeared to be influenced by the violent content of the game. The court record indicates that the convicted teenager confessed to committing these crimes.