KARACHI, March 31: The Sindh High Court anti-terrorism bench allowed on Friday an appeal moved by four convicts in sectarian killings in a city mosque. Mohammad Azam alias Sharif, Ataullah alias Qasimi, Mian Mohammad Ajmal alias Akram Lahori and Tasadduq Hussain alias Shaikh, all office-bearers and activists of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (since outlawed) were tried by an anti-terrorism court for killing six people and injuring many more by indiscriminate firing in Masjid Ali Al Murtaza, Azam Town, Karachi, on Oct 4, 2001. They were convicted in August 2003 and while Azam and Ataullah were sentenced to death, Ajmal and Tassaduq were to undergo life imprisonment. They were also sentenced to various jail terms and pay fines on other charges.

Their appeals against their conviction and sentences were heard by a division bench, comprising Justices Rehmat Hussain Jafferi and Ali Sain Dino Metlo. The bench allowed the appeals by a short order and for reasons to be record later.

A counter-appeal moved by the prosecution for enhancement of the sentence of life term awarded to two convicts to death penalty was dismissed as was the reference for confirmation of death sentences.

The defence earlier argued that the evidence adduced by the prosecution before the trial court was conflicting and contradictory and unable to sustain a conviction.