PESHAWAR, Nov 19: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal of two drug pushers and upheld the life sentence awarded to them by a trial court.

The bench, comprising the chief justice of the court Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, observed that the appellants were caught red-handed while carrying the seized drugs in a vehicle. The court observed that the prosecution had proved its case against the appellants.

The appellants Humayun and Umer Shah were convicted by the special judge anti-narcotics in Kohat and were sentenced to life with a fine of Rs1,00,000 each.

They were arrested on Feb 9, 2001, by the Anti-Narcotics Force while they were travelling in a Suzuki pick-up. The ANF had recovered 132 kgs of charas and 10 kgs of opium from the vehicle. They were charged under section 9 (c) of the Control of Narcotics Substance Act, 1997.

The appellants counsel contended that they were motor mechanics and the vehicle did not belong to them. He contended that a person named Wali Khan was owner of the vehicle. He added that they were informed by him that the Suzuki was out of order and were asked to repair it. He added that they were taking the vehicle to the workshop when the ANF arrested them and seized the vehicle.

The ANF’s counsel contended that the contraband was concealed in the Suzuki in such a manner that it could not remain hidden from the appellant. He added that they claimed to be motor- mechanics and even if their plea was considered to be true then the question arose why they had not spotted the contraband when they were checking the engine.

Appeal Dismissed: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday upheld life sentence awarded to a drug pusher and dismissed his criminal appeal.

The appellant, Liaqatullah, was convicted by an additional district and sessions judge in Nowshera after he was found guilty of drug pushing and was sentenced to life with a fine of Rs1,00,000.

The appellant and a co-accused, Khyal Badshah, were arrested by the police on March 12, 1998, when they were travelling in a truck on G.T.Road. The police had recovered 67 kgs of charas from the truck.

During the trial, the co-accused was released on bail who later on became absconder.