KARACHI: An antiterrorism court remanded on Tuesday an alleged hit man in encounter, explosive substances and illicit weapon cases.

The police produced Bilal Qureshi, alias Chingari, before the court for remand and submitted that he was arrested in a New Karachi area on Monday after a shootout and an unlicensed weapon and explosive material were found in his possession.

The in-charge judge of the ATC-II, Anandram Sairani, handed over the suspect to the police on 14-day physical remand for questioning.

The police claimed that the suspect was involved in over two dozen sectarian killings and affiliated with a banned sectarian outfit.

Three cases were registered against the suspect under Sections 324 (attempted murder) and 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Pakistan Penal Code, Section 4/5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 23(1) (a) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013 read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Bilal Colony police station.

Two convicted

Another antiterrorism court sentenced on Tuesday two convicts to a total of 31 years in prison in attempted murder and illicit weapons cases.

The court found Mohammad Hasan and Umair guilty of attacking a Rangers party, making an attempt on the lives of paramilitary soldiers and carrying unlicensed weapons in January last year in Saddar.

The judge of the ATC-IX, Farman Ali Kanasro, sentenced to 10-year imprisonment each under Section 324 (attempted murder) of the PPC and Section 7 of the ATA to both the convicts, seven years in illicit weapons cases and two years each under Sections 353 and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the PPC.

The court also imposed fines in each offence and in case of non-payment the convicts would undergo additional two to six months imprisonment. However, all the sentences would run concurrently.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2015

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