November 23, 2008	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 24, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 22: An additional district and sessions judge on Saturday sentenced a man to four years in jail for robbery.

After recording final arguments from both sides, Judge Manther Ali Jatoi observed that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond any shadow of doubt against Wali Khan alias Sher Rahman by producing ample evidence and witnesses before the trial court.

Besides the four-year sentence, the judge imposed a fine of Rs10,000. In case of non-payment, the convict would have to undergo an additional three-month imprisonment.

Zubair, Haider and Kabul were declared absconders in the case.

According to the prosecution, the accused along with his absconding associates barged into the house of Fida Hussain in Baldia Town on April 4, 2006. They held him and his family hostage at gunpoint and looted Rs20,000 in cash and other valuables. The complainant, with the help of his family members, overpowered Wali Khan when he, along with his associates, was about to leave. However, the other suspects managed to escape.

The case was registered at Baldia Town police station.

In all, 10 prosecution witnesses appeared in court to testify.

Meanwhile, bailable warrants were issued for the arrest of the complainant, the victim and 20 prosecution witnesses on Saturday in the case pertaining to the gang-rape of a woman on the premises of Mazar-i-Quaid.

An additional district and sessions court (east) issued the warrants as none of them turned up to testify despite being summoned by the court.

The 18-year-old woman was subjected to sexual assault after being kidnapped by around five men on the night of March 15 and was found in an unstable condition outside the mausoleum on March 17, 2008.

Police arrested an assistant manager security of mausoleum on March 20 for his alleged involvement in the case. An accountant and a personal assistant to the resident engineer of the Quaid-i-Azam Mausoleum Management Board were arrested on April 24 following the receipt of the DNA report that confirmed their involvement in the case.

All the suspects were remanded in jail custody.

The hearing was put off till December 2.