KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Wednesday handed down 29-year imprisonment to a mugger in cases pertaining to encounter, possessing illicit weapon and terrorism.

Abdul Javed was found guilty of attacking policemen with intention to kill them with illicit weapon and causing terror within the jurisdiction of Korangi police station in February this year.

On Wednesday, the ATC-XIII judge, who conducted trial in judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his verdict reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs120,000 on the convict. On default, he would have to undergo an additional one-year imprisonment.

State prosecutor Ghulam Murtaza Maitlo argued that a police party on suspicion had signalled two men pillion riding a motorcycle on Feb 4 in Sector 33-D of Korangi 2 1/1, but they opened fire.

He added that the cops also returned the bullets that hit Abdul Javed in leg and he was arrested, while his alleged accomplice managed to flee.

The prosecutor argued that an unlicensed pistol used in firing on the policemen was also recovered from his possession.

He claimed that the material, ocular, circumstantial and forensic evidences established the role of the detained accused in commissioning of the offences alleged by the prosecution. He pleaded to punish him according to the law.

Accused Javed, however, denied the allegations, claiming that the policemen had framed him in the present cases on the basis of personal enmity and also wounded him by unprovoked firing. But, he failed to produce any witness or evidence in his defence.

Two separate cases were registered under Sections 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with the Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Korangi police station on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Syed Abrar Hussain.

IO told to file charge sheet against PTI leader

A judicial magistrate has directed the investigating officer (IO) to submit a charge sheet against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi in a case pertaining to staging violent protests.

Several PTI lawmakers including Naqvi along with 800-900 party workers have been booked for allegedly staging violent protests in Karachi, blocking the thoroughfares, resorting to rioting and violence before and after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on May 9.

The IO appeared before a judicial magistrate (South) in connection with a case pertaining to staging violent protest in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2023