LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday handed down death penalty on three counts to three more accused persons each for their role in a 2021 blast near the residence of Jamatud Dawa’s chief Hafiz Saeed in Johar Town.

The convicts include Samiul Haq, Uzair Akbar and Naveed Akhtar.

ATC-I Presiding Judge Abhur Gul Khan awarded the death sentence to the convicts on three counts each under section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code, under section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 and under section 3/4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1908.

In addition to forfeiture of the properties and imposition of fine, the judge also awarded life imprisonments to each convict and 10-year jail terms for other offences inserted in the FIR.

Johar Town police had registered the FIR on June 23, 2021.

Earlier, the trial court had in June 2022, handed down death penalty to four suspects on three counts each in the blast case.

The convicts were Peter Paul, Eid Gul, Ziaullah and Sajjad Hussain.

The trial judge also awarded five-year imprisonment to another suspect Ayesha Gul on charges of facilitating the prime suspects.

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) had arrested the accused persons and the prosecution presented 56 witnesses during the trial.

On June 23, 2021, the powerful blast near the Johar Town residence of Hafiz Saeed had killed three people and injured 24 others including a police constable.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2023