LAHORE: Giving a verdict in the first-ever case submitted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Lahore, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday awarded life imprisonment, with orders for confiscation of entire property, to an Al Qaeda member.

Convict Khurrum Shah­zad of Rawalpindi was arres­ted by CTD police from Lorry Adda on May 13 this year and a hand-grenade and 10kg of explosive material were found in his possession.

Khurram Shahzad confessed that he had planted a bomb in the washroom of a bus stand. The bomb was also recovered by CTD officials.

The CTD registered a case against the suspect under anti-terrorism charges and during investigation it was revealed that the suspect belonged to Al Qaeda and was involved in transporting arms, ammunition and explosive material to carry out attacks.

CTD police presented the suspect before the ATC after completion of challan and investigation. After a cross- examination of witnesses and trial, presiding judge Muzaffar Husain Shah announced the verdict.

The court convicted Khurrum Shahzad and awarded life imprisonment besides confiscation of his moveable and unmoveable property.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2015

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