ABBOTTABAD: An anti-terrorism court, Abbottabad, convicted two suspected members of outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan for possession of arms and ammunition, including suicide vests, and sentenced them to 20 years and five years imprisonment respectively.

The judge of ATC, Anwar Khan, held special proceedings at Haripur Prison on Friday and Saturday, and pronounced that the prosecution had proved its case against the two accused, Mohammad Farooq, a resident of Dhamthore area, and Mohammad Ashraf, a native of Mangal area.

The court, however, acquitted a third suspect named Ijaz Ahmed due to lack of evidence. The accused Farooq was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment whereas Ashraf was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

They were arrested in connection with a famous Nika Pani Mangal Case in which heavy ammunition was recovered from them after a police encounter. Two cases were registered against them under Section 324, 353, and 186 of Pakistan Penal Code, Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 13 of the Arms Ordinance in Mir Pur police station on Sept 29, 2013 and Oct 3, 2013.

According to the FIRs, two suspects on a motorcycle had exchanged fire with a police party and fled away. However, they had left the motorcycle and a mobile phone through which the police traced the accused persons.

At the time of their arrest the police had also recovered three suicide jackets, a rocket launcher, two mortar shells, detonators and ammunition.

In initial interrogation, they had admitted they were part of the outfit which was also involved in rocket attacks on Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, in January 2012 and later in a bank robbery at Mansehra where five of their accomplices and an SHO were killed in encounter on Aug 2, 2013.

Mohammad Ashraf is the father of one Yasir, who was killed in police encounter after the bank robbery.

Hazara DIG Akhter Hayat Khan had told a press conference at the time of their arrest that they had disclosed during interrogation that they were planning to hit sensitive targets in Abbottabad and other parts of the country. He had stated that they were trained members of a banned outfit.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial police officer Nasir Khan Durrani has announced commendation certificates and cash awards for the investigation and other officers of the police related to this case. He stated that all those police officials who would make proper investigation, helpful in conviction of accused persons, would be encouraged and rewarded.