07 March 2004	Sunday	15 Muharram 1425

KARACHI, March 6: Three more activists of the banned Khuddamul Islam were convicted on Saturday for collecting chanda (donation) in the name of Jihad.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the anti-terrorism court, who had earlier convicted three other activists for the same offence, sentenced Farrukh Nafees and Suleman Khan to a five-year term. Both were also fined Rs50,000 each and the judge ordered that the defaulter on the payment would have to undergo an additional six- month term. The third accused, Nauman, was sentenced to suffer one-year term for his being a juvenile.

The three activists of the banned outfit were arrested on Nov 22, 2003 by the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police in front of Siddiq-i-Akbar mosque while collecting donations from the passers-by. The police also seized a banner, two receipt books and Rs2,500 from the activists at the time of their arrest. Nearly half-an-hour before their arrest, the same police had arrested Syed Khalid Raza, Abdus Salam and Shakirullah in front of Masjid-i-Quba in the same vicinity. An identical banner, two receipts and Rs1,500 were seized from them.

The two cases were first of its nature since the collection of donation in the name of Jihadwas made an offence, which involves maximum punishment up to 10 years.

The police have registered three cases of chanda collection so far. The third case, being tried by the ATC-5, was registered by Mehmoodabad police.