KARACHI: An antiterrorism court handed down on Tuesday a collective sentence of 25 years to five men in an encounter and attempted murder cases.

Mohammad Irfan, Shahabuddin, Shahzad, Faisal Naseer and Farhan, alias DSP, said to be affiliated with a political party, were found guilty of attacking a police party, deterring policemen from discharge of their duty, causing them injuries and torching a police van in Shah Faisal Colony in November 2010.

ATC-IV Judge Anandram Sairani, who conducted the trial inside the central prison, awarded a total of 25 years term to each convict and imposed fines for the offences under Sections 324 (attempted murder), 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage, etc) and 337-H (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. However, all the sentences would run concurrently.

A case was registered at the Shah Faial Colony police station and over 30 men were shown absconders in the case.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2015

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