KARACHI: An antiterrorism court (ATC) has sentenced three Lyari gangsters to 14 years in prison in a case pertaining to possessing two hand grenades and illegal weapons.

After hearing and recording evidence from both sides, the ATC-XX judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, found the three members of the Saleem Chocolatee group of Liyari gang warfare — Mohammad Aqib, Bilal and Mohammad Mehboob — guilty of possessing two hand grenades and illegal weapons.

The court also sentenced them to five years in prison over possessing illicit weapons and imposed Rs20,000 each in fine.

The court observed that the prosecution witnesses fully corroborated and supported each other on all material aspects of the prosecution case.

The counsel for the defence also conducted cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses at length; however, their evidence could not be shattered.

According to the prosecution, complainant Inspector Syed Husain Raza stated that on February 23, he was busy in patrolling along with his subordinate staff on University Road near Kashmir Amusement Park. During the patrol he received information from his informer regarding movement of the suspects who were carrying explosives and weapons.

Acting on the tip-off, the police party apprehended the suspects, who are allegedly members of the Saleem Chocolatee group of the Liyari gang warfare.

During their search, the police recovered two hand grenades and illegal weapons, including a pistol, rifle and 9mm pistol along with live bullets.

However, in the raid the absconding co-accused Iqbal, alias Langra, managed to escape from the spot.

During the trial, the prosecution examined its five witnesses, while the accused persons denied the allegation levelled against them. However, they neither took oath nor produced any witnesses in their support.

The defence counsel argued that Bilal and Aqib were already under the custody of police prior to the day of the incident and later they were handed over to the PIB Colony police for implicating them in the false case.

He also contended that a press conference held by the concerned SHO in which the recovered case property was displayed to the media, which meant that the case property was not sealed on the spot.

He also claimed that they had been apprehended from their house along with their father situated at Hub Chowki in Balochistan.

However, their father was released by police after taking a “bribe” from him, the counsel claimed.

However, the court rejected their pleas and noted that the defence counsel failed to produce any substantial evidence in support of their claims.

Total five FIRs were registered against the accused at the PIB Colony police station under Sections 4/5 of the Explosive Substances Act read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 23 (i)-A of the Sindh Arms Act.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024