KARACHI, Oct 15: A sessions court sentenced on Monday a man to 10 years in prison in a case pertaining to the murder of a child.

The court found Mohammad Javed guilty of causing death to three-year-old Shehryar within the remit of the Pakistan Bazaar police station in July 2004.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (west) Abdullah Channa also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the convict and in case of default he would have to undergo an additional six months in prison.

The accused was charged under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code. However, after valuating the evidence advanced by both sides, the court ruled that the offence was not punishable under Section 302. It convicted the accused under Section 315 (qatl shibh-i-amd) of the PPC.

According to Section 315, “Whenever, with intent to harm to the body or mind of any person causes the death of that or of any other person by means of a weapon or an act which in the ordinary course of nature is not likely to cause death is said to commit qatl shibh-i-amd”.

A case (FIR 132/04) was registered under Section 302 of the PPC on a complaint of the mother of the victim child.

The accused was produced in custody and the court extended the benefit of Section 382-B (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the criminal procedure code and remanded him back to prison along with the conviction warrant to serve out the remainder of his sentence.

Order on police remand plea today

The same court reserved on Monday its order till today on an application of police seeking custody of three suspects in the Baldia Town garment factory fire case.

The investigation officer submitted an application for getting the physical custody of Arshad Bhaila, Shahid Bhaila and Mansoor for interrogations.

The IO stated that Bhaila brothers were sent to prison on Oct 6 by a judicial magistrate shortly after the dismissal of their pre-arrest bail applications, while Mansoor was also in judicial custody. He submitted that their custody was required for interrogations and to collect some important record.

After hearing both sides, the court reserved its order for pronouncement till Oct 16 (today).