HYDERABAD, June 17: The Anti-Terrorism Court judge, Hyderabad, Syed Ali Ashraf Shah, on Monday awarded life imprisonment to nine accused, five of whom remain absconding, in two separate cases of kidnapping of a trader and murder of three policemen.

In the first case, the court awarded a 25-year sentence to Bakhshan Bhambhro in the murder case of ASI Hayat Babar and Head Constable Farhan in the jurisdiction of the Tando Adam police station.

The accused were also found guilty of setting ablaze an Armoured Personnel Carrier.

The case against them was lodged under sections 302, 324 and 353 PPC vide crime No11/2001.

The absconding accused are Yousuf Mari, Khadim Rind, Shaukat Lail, Adloo Khoso and Fida Mirjat.

The accused have been fined Rs100,000 each. In case of non-payment of fine, they will have to undergo another year of rigorous imprisonment.

In the second case, the Anti-Terrorism Court judge awarded life imprisonment twice to three accused in the murder case of the SHO, Tando Allahyar police station, A. Bux Channa, and for the kidnapping of a trader of Karachi.

They will have to pay a fine of Rs100,000 each, which will be given to the heirs of the SHO killed.

In case of non-payment of fine, they will undergo another year of imprisonment.

The court, however, acquitted five accused in the case for lack of evidence against them. They were Bhai Khan, Gul Bhatti, Yaqoob Makrani, Jumman Chuttho and Salamat Lakho.

The accused, Haneef, Ali Nawaz and Laung Machi, had kidnapped Mohammad Anees Memon, a trader of seeds in Karachi, on May 28, 2001.

A case was lodged at the Hatri police station under section 365-A PPC. The accused were arrested.

Laung Machi and Haneef Machi were also booked under section 13-D of the Arms Ordinance. The court awarded both seven years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 each.

On account of default of payment of fine, they will have to pass another year in jail.

In a police encounter that took place in the jurisdiction of the Tandojam police station on June 23, 2002, SHO A. Bux Channa was gunned down. Two accused were arrested on the spot, while the third was arrested later.

SPSC: The controller of examinations, Sindh Public Service Commission, Hyderabad, has announced the names of eligible candidates who were interviewed by it for the post of Information Officer BPS-17 in the Information and Archives Department, Government of Sindh, reports our Bureau.