KARACHI: A model court awarded on Thursday life imprisonment to a convict for murdering a student upon resisting an armed robbery in 2019.

Accused Abdul Rehman, alias Lakhmir, was found guilty of gunning down first-year student Mohammad Mohsin in Korangi Industrial Area on March 3, 2019.

On Thursday, additional district and sessions’ judge Javed Iqbal of the model criminal trial court pronounced his judgement reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge also ordered the convict to pay Rs500,000 in compensation to the legal heirs of the victim.

He was further awarded seven-year imprisonment for committing an armed robbery.

The case against alleged absconding suspects Saddam Hussain and Irshad Shah was kept on the dormant file till their arrest.

State prosecutor Mohammad Ashraf Bhatti contended that unidentified culprits riding a motorcycle shot dead Mohsin when he put up resistance during an armed robbery at Vita Chowrangi and escaped.

The victim received one bullet wound to his leg, which travelled to his chest, thus proving fatal and claimed his life, he added.

Three days later, the prosecutor said, the accused persons were arrested in connection with some other case and during interrogation they disclosed their involvement in a robbery and murder of Mohsin, who was aged between 17 to 18 years.

On the other hand, defence counsel Mohammad Afzal Gudaro denied the allegations and claimed innocence on the part of the accused.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Korangi Industrial Area police station.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2021