MULTAN: An anti-terrorism court here on Tuesday sentenced Ghulam Rasool Chhotu, the ringleader of notorious Chhotu Gang, and his 19 accomplices to death on 18 counts, besides slapping Rs6.2 million fine on them.

The judgment was pronounced by the ATC No 1 (camped at New Central Jail) Judge Malik Khalid Mehmood.

Take a look: The rise of Chhotu and his gang

The convicts included Ghulam Rasool alias Chhotu, Din Muhammad, Khalid alias Khalidi, Ishaq alias Bilal, Akram alias Akri, Ghulam Haidar, Hakim, Razzaq, Majid, Nasir, Sher Khan, Juma alias Bhutta, Rasheed, Behram, Bashir, Abdul Wahid, Mujeebur Rehman, Hussain Bakhsh and Piyara.

They were handed down the sentence under section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with section 149 of the PPC, section 7(a) of the Anti Terrorism Act 1997 and section 3 of the Explosive Substance Act 1908.

Will also have to pay Rs6.2m fine

Two minor convicts, Qasim and Samad, have been handed down life terms on 19 counts each.

Each of the 22 convicts will also have to pay Rs6.2 million fine.

The court also directed to forfeit the properties of the convicts.

The court stated that “the case property shall be kept intact till the decision of appeal or revision, if any”.

The convicts have been given the benefit of section 382-B of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and all the sentences of imprisonment will run concurrently.

The convicts can file appeals in the Lahore High Court within 15 days as enshrined under section 3 of the Section 25 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

The accused persons Kabil, Hazara, Nawab, Meer Haji, Shehzada, Ameen, Khuda Bakhsh, Qasim, Habib, Sanaullah, Lala, Nadir, Nasarullah, Ghulam Bani, Dareehan, Mujeet, Sabar Din, Ahmed, Aslam, Matara, Saiva, Bashir, Abdullah, Haji Abdul Ghani, Rahib, Challo and Jan Muhammad have been declared proclaimed offenders.

The judge, issuing their perpetual non-bailable arrest warrants, ordered the station house officer (SHO) concerned to arrest and present them before the court for their trial.

Challans of the cases were submitted in 2016 and total 56 witnesses recorded their statements.

Nine cases were filed against Chhotu Gang in Rahim Yar Khan.

Police backed by military helicopters had raided the gang’s hideouts. Help of army was sought after police lost six personnel in an operation against the gang.

Finally, the ringleader and his gang members had surrendered unconditionally to the army in an operation titled Zarb-i-Ahan in which 24 policemen who had been taken hostage were also rescued.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2019