KARACHI: A sessions court awarded three street criminals a total of 14 years in prison on charges of looting a citizen at gunpoint and possession of illicit weapons.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon found Abdullah Hussain, Muhammad Muzammil and Muhammad Adil guilty of possession of illegal weapons and snatching over Rs190,000 from a fruit delivery Suzuki driver in Sector D-2, Malir Colony, in March 2024.

“Nowadays, the street crimes are increasing day by day and no one could feel secure at the hands of merciless muggers. Thus under such circumstances, the release of accused persons based on minor or slight contradictions would not be better for society, as such criminals have created terror in the society, due to which, many innocents have even lost their lives and valuable belongings,” the court observed.

The court has sentenced them on two counts; seven years each for offences under Section 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 23 (i) (a) of the Sindh Arms Act 2013.

The convicts had snatched over Rs190,000 from a fruit delivery man in 2024

According to state prosecutor Syed Khursheed Bukhari, complainant Dil Agha Khan stated that on the day of the incident, he had sent his driver Imran to deliver fruits and instructed him to collect the amount from his customers.

Later, when the driver reached near Sector D-2, Malir Colony, three persons on a motorbike intercepted him and at gunpoint, they snatched over Rs190,000 which was collected from his customers and the accused, before feeling, threatened the driver with dire consequences.

After registering the complaint, the police later managed to apprehend the accused persons in a case of possession of illegal weapons.

Subsequently, the police officially arrested the three accused persons as the driver identified him in this case.

During the trial, the accused persons denied the allegations against them and stated that nothing was recovered from them and the police, to show their efficiency, had not only booked them in a false case but also foisted upon them the fake recovery of motorcycle and cash amount.

However, the court rejected their pleas and noted that the defence counsel had not been able to even shake evidence of prosecution and also failed to establish any enmity between accused persons and police thus there was “no sound reason to disbelieve the evidence of police witnesses.”

Two cases were registered at the Saudabad police station under Sections 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and read with Section 23 (i) (a) of the Sindh Arms Act 2013.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2025