KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Friday awarded 17-year imprisonment each to two accused in a case pertaining to mugging, armed assault on the police and possessing illicit arms.

Asif alias Kala and Atique were found guilty of committing an armed robbery and engaging in armed encounter with the police within the remit of Mehmoodabad police station in 2018.

On Friday, the judge of the ATC concerned pronounced the verdict reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge noted that the prosecution successfully proved its charges against the accused persons, thus convicting them on the counts of committing armed robbery, possessing illicit weapons and armed assault on the police.

According to the prosecution, the accused snatched a mobile phone and cash from a citizen, Malik Adil Awan, at gunpoint and tried to escape on Dec 28, 2018. However, a police party arrived there and signalled the accused to stop, when the convicts opened fire on them, it added.

The prosecution further mentioned that police returned fire and both muggers were arrested in injured condition, adding that recoveries were duly made from their possession while statements of five prosecution witnesses also corroborated the charges against them.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2020