KARACHI: 2 get death sentence in Suparco van firing case
By Tahir Siddiqui
KARACHI, Oct 31: An anti-terrorism court condemned two activists of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan to death in the Suparco van firing case on Tuesday.
Six people were killed and seven others were injured in the attack in 2003.
Judge Feroze Mehmood Bhatti of the ATC-II also sentenced the two activists to an aggregate of 54 years on different counts.
Shahnawaz alias Shani and Shaukat alias Javed alias Chand, both in their early 20s, were convicted of attacking a Suparco van carrying employees for Juma prayers on Hub River Road on Oct 3, 2003.
The dead included Mohammad Qasim, Raza Ali, Athar Ali, Syed Hashim Raza, Havildar Mohammad Rafiq and Wasi Hussain and the injured were Ali Husnain Jaffery, Syed Asif Ali Jaffery, Itrat Hussain, Pervez Akhter, Asghar Zaheer, Munawwar Ali Zaidi and Aslam Abbas.
Shani and Shaukat were earlier condemned to death in Al Falah Imambargah killing case.
The convicts pleaded not guilty, and said they had nothing to do with sectarian killings.
Shaukat who was an external candidate of intermediate exam at the time of his arrest said he would challenge the decision before the superior courts.
Shani said he belonged to the banned outfit and had been studying at a religious institution in Korangi.
The judge observed that the prosecution had successfully proved charges against both the accused beyond any reasonable doubt.
Mohammad Shaukat escorted co-accused Shahnawaz and absconding co-accused Asif alias Chohto on a motorcycle to the place of the incident and facilitated them to commit the offence.
“For causing callous offence of brutal and broad-day light Qatl-i-Amd (intentional murder) of innocent persons, they are awarded death sentence as ta’zir on each count,” the judge wrote in his verdict.
Shani and Shaukat were given one-year term each for causing injuries called Jurh Ghayr Jaifah Damiyah, to Ali Hasnain Jafri and Syed Asif Ali Jafri under Section 337-F (i).
For causing one injury, declared as Shajjah-i-Khafifah, to injured Itrat Hussain, the SSP activists were sentenced to undergo RI for two years.
The judge sentenced the convicts to an aggregate of 19 years for causing four injuries to Pervez Akhter.
The SSP activists were sentenced to a three-year term for causing injuries called Jurh Ghayr Jaifah Mutalahimah to Asghar Zaheer.
An aggregate of 27 years term was awarded to convicts for causing various other sorts of wounds to Aslam Abbas and Munawar Ali Zaidi and two more years for causing damage to Suparco bus.
A fine of Rs 50,000 each was also imposed on the convicts; and in case of default, they would have to undergo an additional six-month term.
Shani and Shaukat were also sentenced to a five-year term for possessing an unlicensed SMG and a pistol.
The judge also imposed a fine of Rs10,000 each, and additional six months in case of default on payment.
The prosecution, represented by special public prosecutors Ghulam Qadir Rajput and Iqtidar Ali Hashmi, examined 26 prosecution witnesses, who also included six eye-witnesses.
M. R. Syed appeared for Shahnawaz and Aamir Mansoob Qureshhi represented Shaukat. Khawaja Naveed Ahmed appeared for complainant Iftikhar Hussain Shah.
