KARACHI, June 12: A bandit, who with his accomplices had slaughtered an elderly couple and injured their granddaughter over six years ago, was sentenced on Thursday to death twice by an additional district and sessions court.

Judge Kauser Sultana also sentenced Ashraf Ali to suffer a four-year term of rigorous imprisonment for the house robbery.

Shaikh Najeebullah, 70, a retired engineer of the telephone department, and his wife, Sharifunnisa, were killed on January 3, 1997 in their house (No. L-122), Block-2, PECH Society, in the limits of the Ferozabad police.

Ashraf Ali and three others had barged into the Shaikh’s house in the small hours. As they entered the house, the couple’s granddaughter, Dr Alia, woke up and cried for help. The intruders stabbed the doctor and locked the room leaving her unconscious.

Later, the bandits entered the room where Mr Najeebullah and his wife were asleep and slit their throats with edged weapons.

The dacoits had also snatched a gold chain, ear rings and Rs1,000 from Dr Alia, who had come from Lahore only three days before the incident.

The police had initially registered the case against unknown bandits. Later, Ashraf Ali was arrested during the course of investigation. His accomplices, however, remained untraceable.