KARACHI: LJ worker sentenced to death, Lahori acquitted
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Sept 24: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Wednesday a worker of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi to death and acquitted the LJ chief and two others in a sectarian murder case.
Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5, who conducted the trial inside the Juvenile Prison, condemned Ataullah to death and acquitted Mohammed Ajmal alias Akram Lahori, Mohammed Azam and Malik Tassaduq.
The LJ men, represented by M. R. Syed and Sarfraz Tanoli, were prosecuted for killing a security guard, Mohammed Nazeer, at the Mehfil-i-Zainub imambargah in Rizvia Society on April 7, 2002.
Special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum examined in all 13 prosecution witnesses, including two eye-witnesses.
The two prosecution witnesses deposed that they were going to the imambargah to meet the Pesh Imam when they saw the four accused going on two bikes. They said the accused stopped near the small gate of the Imambargah where guard Nazeer was on duty.
The eye-witnesses said Ataullah opened fire on the guard, who fell to the ground. They said later the accused broke apart the rifle of their victim and rode away on their bikes.
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on accused Ataullah, who would have to undergo an additional one-year term in case of default on the payment. The convict was also ordered to pay Rs100,000 as Diyat to the victim’s family or undergo one-year term.
ACQUITTED: The judicial magistrate, West, Ms Alia Malik, acquitted a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in a case pertaining to the possession of an unlicensed pistol.
Mohammed Akhlaq alias Khulnaik was booked in 1999 by the Mominabad police.
The JM exonerated him from the charge for want of incriminating evidence.
WARRANTS: The additional district and sessions judge, West, Sikander Ali Lashari, issued bailable warrants for the arrest of five police officials for not appearing before the court despite repeated notices.
Inspectors Khan Piryal and Javed Abbasi, SI Piroze and ASIs Juma Khan and Mohammed Arshad were required for their evidence in a murder case registered by the Surjani Town police in 1997.
The judge fixed Sept 27 for the next hearing and ordered the police officials to appear before the court with personal bond of surety.
