KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Monday sentenced seven persons, including a woman, to a collective sentence of 27-year impri­s­onment in cases pertaining to a shoot-out, attempted murder, terrorism and possessing illicit arms.

The convicts — Akhtar Ali alias Qari, Khadim Hussain, Abid Abbas alias Jutt, Rehmatullah alias Ditta, Ghulam Farid, Abid Ali alias Munna and Shehnaz alias Muskan — were found guilty of a shoot-out with the police, attacking them with an intent to murder with unlicensed weapons and causing terror, in August.

They were detained and book in eight cases registered under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (attempt to murder), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with the Section 23(i)-A of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013 at the Gulberg police station.

On Monday, the ATC-X judge, who conducted trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his verdict which was earlier reserved after recording the evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge wrote that the prosecution had proved its charges against the detained accused persons without a shadow of a doubt, as the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses inspired confidence.

Therefore, the judge convicted the six men to a collective sentence of 27-year imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs250,000 each on the counts of a shoot-out with the police, attempting to murder them, causing firearm injuries, possessing illicit arms and causing terror.

The judge also awarded a collective jail sentence of 27 years to a woman convict, who was also ordered to pay a Rs250,000 fine, on the same counts. However, their sentences would run concurrently.

The cases against their alleged absconding accomplice Basit were kept on the dormant file to be reopened after his voluntary surrender or arrest.

The prosecution said that a seven-member gang of dacoits, including a woman, was busted after an armed encounter by the Gulberg police.

It further said that a police party during routine patrolling had signalled a suspicious vehicle with a motorbike to stop on Aug 13, but the occupants of the vehicle and motorcycle riders allegedly opened fire on them and tried to escape. However, the police party chased and arrested all the suspects, recovering a TT pistol each from them without licences, around 36 rounds and six snatched mobile phones, the prosecution alleged. It also claimed the recovery of a pistol which the accused had allegedly snatched from a security guard of a private company in the Bahadurabad area.

The prosecution said that the accused were involved in street crimes in areas including Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Korangi and New Karachi.

Assistant prosecutor general stated that the gang was involved in committing robberies in which the woman co-accused was instrumental by luring men. An unlicensed pistol of .30 bore was seized from her possession.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2019