KARACHI, May 21: An anti-terrorism court indicted on Monday three suspected militants of a proscribed outfit on a number of charges after clubbing together the cases against them.

Mohammad Qasim Toori, Danish alias Talha and Abid Ali said to be associated with the banned Jundullah were arrested for allegedly keeping illicit weapons and explosive substances besides killing two policemen and wounding as many in January 2008 in a massive shootout with law-enforcement agencies in Shah Latif Town.

Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso of the ATC-I, who is conducting the trial inside the Karachi central prison for security considerations, read out the set of charges, including murder, attempt to murder, deterring a public servant from discharging his duty, keeping explosive stuff and possessing unlicensed weapons, against the suspects.

However, they pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the charges.

The court subsequently summoned prosecution witnesses and directed them to record their testimonies on June 4.

According to the prosecution, police arrested the accused persons on Jan 29, 2008 after a shoot-out with them in the Shah Latif area. The firing left two policemen dead and as many others wounded. Their four accomplices were also killed in the shoot-out.

A case (FIR No 55/08) was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (criminal assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code along with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Shah Latif Town police station. They were also booked in cases under Sections 3,4&5 of the Explosive Substance Act and individually under Section 13-D of the Arms Ordinance.—Staff Reporter