KARACHI, Jan 24: An anti-terrorism court charged on Saturday three more activists of the banned Kuddamul Islam with collection of donations for "Jihad".

It was the second case of its nature since the collection of donations by the banned organisations has been made an offence involving maximum punishment for 10 years.

Both the cases, registered by the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police, are being tried by the ATC-5, headed by Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch, who had earlier indicted three other workers in an identical case.

The activists of the banned outfit - Syed Khalid Raza, Abdus Salam and Shakir Ullah - denied the charges and pleaded "not guilty" when they were formally arraigned in the case.

The three were arrested on Nov 22, 2003, in front of Masjid-i-Quba in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block-7, where they were collecting donations from passersby.

According to prosecution, the activists were holding a banner, inscribed with "Manzil door nahin - Jihad kay liay dil khol kar chanda do" (Destination is not too far - Donate generously for holy war).

The police seized Rs2,500, a banner and two receipt books from the activists, who are being represented by Nihal Hashmi.

The judge fixed Jan 29 for the next hearing and issued notices to special public prosecutor, Mazhar Qayyum, to produce its witnesses on the next date.

Meanwhile, the prosecution produced its first witness in the first case of donation collection against another set of three workers of the banned Khuddamul Islam.

The activists of the banned outfit - Farrukh Nafees, Suleman Khan and Nauman - denied the charge and pleaded "not guilty" when Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 formally arraigned them in the case.

The three were arrested on Nov 22, 2003, in front of Siddiq-i-Akbar mosque in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block-7, where they were collecting donations from passersby.

According to prosecution, Farrukh Nasim, carrying a receipt book, was collecting money from the people and the two others were holding a banner.

Besides the banner and the receipt book, the police also seized Rs1,500 from the accused.

The first prosecution witness, constable Mohammed Ilyas, deposed that he was the member of the raiding party, who had caught the three accused red-handed while collecting "chanda" (donation).

Defence counsel Nihal Hashmi also cross-examined the prosecution witness, who placed on record the case property, which included one banner, a receipt book and Rs1,500.