December 04, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 5, 1429

KARACHI, Dec 3: An additional district and sessions court on Wednesday sentenced three men to 14 years in prision in a case of robbery and shootout with police.

The judge pronounced the judgment after recording final arguments in the case.

The court found Sultan Ghulam, Rafiqullah and Amir guilty of committing a robbery in a Nazimabad area in 2003 and opening fire on a police party with the intention to kill them.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs3,000 each. In case of non-payment of the fine, the convicts will have to undergo an additional three-month imprisonment. The court in its judgment observed that the prosecution proved its case against the accused beyond any in doubt by producing ample evidence and witnesses before the trial court.

The prosecution said the accused had forcibly entered the house of Gulfaraz Ahmed in the Nazimabad police limits in January 2003.

They took the family hostage at gunpoint and deprived them of cash and valuables. In the meantime, a police party saw the suspects and chased them. They allegedly opened fire on the police. However, the police retaliated and arrested the accused after some resistance, it added.

A case (FIR 80/03) was registered against the accused under Sections 392, 353 and 324/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Gulfaraz.

Meanwhile, the same court sentenced a man to six years in prison in a robbery case.

Mohammad Saleem was charged with robbing the house of Rafab Hussain in 2002 in the limits of Federal B Industrial Area police station.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs1,000 on the convict. In case of non-payment, the convict would have to undergo an additional one-month imprisonment.

A case (FIR 68/02) was registered under Section 392 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Pillion riders

The judicial magistrates at the City Courts and the DDOs concerned on Wednesday ordered the release of over 200 people arrested in different parts of the city on charges of violating the ban imposed on pillion riding. Those accused were released against a surety bond of Rs5,000 each.

Earlier, the police registered a number of cases at various police stations against hundreds of people under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for violating the ban imposed on pillion riding by the Sindh home department.

Legal experts have opposed the ban, however, terming it illegal. They maintain that the ban deprives citizens of their rights and that the government should employ other methods to keep peace in Karachi.

They asserted that instead of arresting those really responsible for the deaths of over 40 people in four days of violence, the government was busy apprehending citizens for disobeying a government order.

They also expressed concerns regarding the surety bonds, saying a presiding officer under the relevant law is authorised to release the suspects with a warning, or by imposing minimum penalty.

Other lawyers disagreed with this view, however, asserting that the accused could not be let off with a mere warning, as an offence committed under Section 188 of the PPC was made ‘non-bailable’ through an amendment in 1969.

Warrants for Arbab’s arrest reissued

A judical magistrate X on Wednesday reissued bailable warrants for the arrest of former Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and other witnesses for not appearing in court to testify in a case registered against Dr Agha Javed Pathan for Dec 15.

Javed Pathan was arrested on April 9 on charges of manhandling former Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and a case (FIR 202/08) was registered at Preedy police station under Sections 502, 452, 506-B 337-A and F of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The police claimed that they had also recovered illegal weapons, hashish and a stolen motorcycle from Pathan’s possession and registered three other cases (FIR Nos. 199/08, 200/08 and 201/08) against him under Sections 392 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 13-D of the Arms Ordinance and Section 6/9-A of the Control of Narcotic Substance Act at Preedy police station. Pathan was later granted bail in each of these cases.

Another judicial magistrate (south) on Wednesday issued notices to the state on an acquittal application moved by the accused, Javed Pathan, in two cases registered against him under the CNS Act and Arms Ordinance. The hearing has now been put off till Dec 23.

Meanwhile, an additional district and sessions judge (east) adjourned the hearing of the Mir Murtaza Bhutto murder case till Dec 20, as witnesses failed to appear in court.

Forex scam case

A banking court, on Wednesday remanded two top officials of a foreign exchange firm in judicial custody on till Dec 17 for their alleged involvement in a forex scam.

The suspects, Javed Khanani and Abdul Munaf Kalia of Khanani and Kalia International are facing charges of illegally transferring billions of dollars from Pakistan.

The Federal Investigation Agency had arrested the suspects on the night of Nov 7 in Karachi and Lahore, after conducting an inquiry on a complaint of money laundering.

The suspects have now filed an application seeking better facilities in jail.