PESHAWAR, Dec 3: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday commuted the sentence of life term awarded to two drug pushers including a woman to 10 years imprisonment.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Ijazul Hassan observed that the prosecution had left various lacuna in the case.

The appellants, Amanul Mulk and Ms Mumliqat, were convicted by the special judge (Control of Narcotics), Nowshera on Aug 6, 2003, and were sentenced to life imprisonment with fine of rupees one million each.

The high court bench commuted their sentence to 10 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs3,00,000 each.

The two appellants, stated to be relatives, were arrested by the officials of customs department on Aug 10, 1997, when they were travelling in a Mercedes car bearing registration No Karachi A 3779 near Azakhel Bala, Nowshera, on GT Road. The officials had recovered 40 kgs of heroin from the vehicle.

The authorities had also taken into custody two children, Faizan and Zeenat, children of Amanul Mulk, who were also travelling with them. They remained in prison as they had no relatives outside to look after them.

Advocate Noor Alam Khan appeared for the appellant and argued that the customs officials had claimed recovery of 40 packets of heroin from possession of the appellants. He contended that instead of 40 packets the authorities had taken samples from only three packets, which made the entire recovery doubtful.

Mr Khan argued that the authorities also claimed of destroying the seized property, however, the destruction certificate was prepared by the customs authorities instead of the competent court. He pointed out that the children of one of the appellants had also been in prison, therefore lenient view may be adopted towards them.

Sentence Commuted: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday commuted the life imprisonment awarded to a couple for drug pushing to seven years imprisonment.

The two appellants, Mohammad Umer and Ms Nazneen, were arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force while travelling in a vehicle near Khairabad bridge on G.T Road and had recovered 40 kgs of charas from the vehicle.

The special judge (Control of Narcotics Substance) had convicted them on April 3 and sentenced them to life with fine of Rs2,00,000 each. A two-member bench of the high court commuted their sentence to seven years with fine of Rs50,000 each.