KARACHI: A sessions court sentenced a street criminal to seven years in prison each in two identical robbery cases for mugging two citizens in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon found Muhammad Yaseen guilty in two identical cases of looting a salesman of a cigarette company and a woman as she was returning home, in separate incidents in Gulistan-i-Jauhar in 2024.

After registering two separate FIRs against the street criminal, the investigating officers submitted their reports before the court and proposed to classify those cases as “A” class cases as they failed to trace the accused persons at that time.

But later Yaseen was apprehended in a separate case in the same year for an offence under Section 382 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

During interrogation by police, the accused allegedly confessed to his involvement in multiple criminal activities. He purportedly admitted that in April 2024, he, along with accomplices, had robbed a salesman working for a cigarette company. They snatched from him over Rs210,000 in cash and several boxes of cigarettes before fleeing from Block 9 in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

A few weeks later, the accused allegedly said he committed another robbery, this time targeting a woman near a family park in Block 14 of the same locality. Describing the incident, he is said to have disclosed that he and his co-accused had snatched a gold ring, a chain, a locket, and a wristwatch from her.

“I must express my thoughts that 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 the accused 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 judge observed.

The court also declared co-accused Muhammad Rizwan and Imtiyaz proclaimed offenders and directed that the case files would remain dormant until their arrest.

In its separate verdicts, the court noted that both complainants had identified the accused before the court and assigned his role in the crimes.

During the investigation, police recovered a robbed wristwatch and a hammer used to break the lock of a Suzuki, as the accused snatched valuables from the salesman.

But before the court, the accused denied the allegations and claimed that he was falsely implicated in the cases.

Two separate cases were registered at the Gulistan-i-Jauhar police under Section 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2025