PESHAWAR, Dec 9: An additional district and sessions judge, Gohar Rehman Khan, on Saturday convicted three persons, including a juvenile, for drug trafficking and sentenced them to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs100,000 each.

The court ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond any doubt. The trials of the juvenile, Hashim Khan, and the two other accused -- Ikramullah and Hussain Khan – were conducted separately.

Additional public prosecutor Arif Khattak had argued that the accused were caught red-handed. He added that the contraband material was recovered from the vehicle in which the accused were travelling.

They were arrested by officials of the Gulbahar police station on Oct 8 last year, while travelling in a car bearing registration number BR 174. The police claimed that they had prior knowledge of the smuggling bid and they had blocked the road near Sikander Town.

They added that when they signalled the car to stop, the driver increased its speed. However, the police managed to stop the car near the general bus stand.

When the car was searched, charas, concealed in engine oil cartons, was found. The accused were charged under section 9 of the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1997.

The defence counsel had requested the court to take a lenient view in the case of the juvenile offender. He was a first-time offender and had apparently been used by the gang of drug traffickers, he contended.

FATA UPLIFT: NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has said that the government is committed to the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and proposals forwarded by parliamentarians from Fata will be given due consideration.