KARACHI: A sessions court has sentenced two street criminals to a total of 22 years in prison on charges of mobile phone snatching, encounter with police and possession of illicit weapons.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon found Edwin and Shahbaz guilty on five counts and sentenced them to seven years’ imprisonment, each for robbery and possession of an illegal weapon.

Additionally, the court handed them five years for attempted murder, two years for assaulting police personnel, and one year each for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of duties. It also ruled that all the sentences would run concurrently.

“The current situation of Karachi city is not so good for every man because the street crimes have promptly been increasing day by day and none from society feel secure at the hands of merciless muggers and the unlicensed weapon is the mother of all crimes, therefore, in the betterment of society, such offenders do not deserve any leniency and they are liable to be strictly punished in accordance with the law, so that no one could commit such kind of crimes,” the judge observed.

State prosecutor Syed Khursheed Abbas said that in January last year, two armed muggers, who were on a motorcycle, snatched a mobile phone and other valuables from a citizen at gunpoint around 11pm in the Gulshan-i-Iqbal area.

About half an hour later, patrolling police signalled them to stop in the same area. However, as they saw the law enforcement personnel, they opened fire. The police retaliated and managed to apprehend both of them in wounded condition.

Subsequently, four cases were registered against them on charges of robbery, armed encounter and possession of illicit weapons.

During the trial, the convicts denied allegations and stated that they did not commit the alleged offence and nothing was recovered from them but the police, in order to show their efficiency, had not only booked them in a false case but also foisted upon them the fake recovery of mobile phone and wristwatch. They had further stated that the prosecution witnesses, being highly interested, had falsely deposed against them.

However, the court reje­cted their pleas and noted that nothing had been brou­ght to their attention that could suggest the prosecution had made false cases against them. As such, the defence plea, without any sound material, cannot help the accused persons, it added.

Four FIRs were registered at the Gulshan-i-Iqbal police station under Sections 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 324 (attempt to murder), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 34 (common intention) read with relevant section of the Sindh Arms Act 2013.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2025