KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Thursday sentenced two convicts to a collective sentence of 17 years imprisonment in cases pertaining to encounter with police, attempt to murder, terrorism and possessing illicit weapons.

However, the court exonerated two other suspects of the charges over “defective” investigation and directed the additional inspector general (legal) to take action against the “incompetent” police inspector and not to assign him investigation of any case under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Two detained accused — Abdul Latif and Mohammad Bilal Mastoi — were charged with shooting at the policemen with the intent to kill them, causing terror and possessing unlicensed weapons in the remit of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police station on July 27, 2015. Their accomplice Aqib Baloch was not charge-sheeted while another suspect, who was declared proclaimed offender, Rehan, was not arrested.

The ATC-X judge, who conducted trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his verdict, which was earlier reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge found Latif and Mastoi guilty of engaging in an encounter with police, attempt to murder and causing terror, thus sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 each. On default, they would undergo six months additional rigorous imprisonment.

Separately, they were also found guilty of possessing unlicensed arms. They were handed down seven years imprisonment and ordered to pay Rs50,000 each as fine. On default, they would undergo six months additional rigorous imprisonment. However, the judge acquitted Aqib and Rehan of the charges, saying that the prosecution had failed to prove its charges against them.

He issued a show-cause notice under Section 27 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 to the “delinquent” investigating officer, inspector Qalandar Bux Narejo, for defective investigation and directed him to submit his reply within three days.

‘Incompetent investigating officer’

The judge also directed the officer to forward a copy of the judgement to the additional inspector general (legal) for information and necessary actions, with the directions that inspector Narejo should not be assigned investigation of any case in future pertaining to the ATA, as he was an “incompetent investigating officer”.

The judge noted that IO Narejo had failed to mention Aqib even in the supplementary charge sheet submitted to the court after he was rearrested in the present case and was sent to jail, adding that he was also not put for identification through the police officials, who were the witnesses of the prosecution.

“Hence, the IO has himself damaged the case of the prosecution to the extent of Aqib,” the judge remarked, adding: “PI Qalandar Bux has further failed to trace out the proclaimed offender, Rehan, till date.”

According to the prosecution, a police party spotted four suspicious men riding two motorcycles in Block 7 near Sunday Bazaar and stopped them for checking. However, they ran away and when the police chased them, the suspects opened straight fire with the intention to kill and deterred them from discharging their official duties and functions, it added. The policemen returned fire and overpowered injured Abdul Latif with co-accused Mohammad Bilal Mastoi while their two accomplices escaped, it added.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2018