KARACHI: A sessions court has sentenced a man to a total of 32 years in prison for robbing a woman and her son of gold, cash and other valuables after holding them hostage at gunpoint in their home.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (West) Ameeruddin found Zakir Ahmed guilty and sentenced him to 25 years in prison for committing an offence under Section 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The judge also awarded him an additional sentence to seven years in jail for committing an offence under Section 392 (punishment for robbery) of the PPC. He was also directed to pay Rs50,000 fine. In case of default, he would have to undergo additional imprisonment for six months.

“The armed robbery was executed with chilling precision, reflecting meticulous planning and a callous disregard for the sanctity of the victims’ home. The accused and his accomplices deliberately chose a time and place where resistance was unlikely, targeting a residence where a child and a woman were present, thereby exploiting their vulnerability. Such premeditation aggravates the offense, as it demonstrates a calculated intent to maximize harm and profit,” the court observed.

“Few tragedies hurt a family more deeply than the robbing of their treasured possessions, a destruction that erodes the very foundation of their security and peace. This anguish is intensified when such a crime is executed with ruthless precision under stress inside their home, which ought to be their safest refuge,” it remarked.

According to state prosecutor Muhammad Tahir Khan, the complainant stated to the police that in February 2022, he received a phone call from his wife, informing him that accused Zakir, along with his three accomplices, had trespassed on their home and robbed them after holding her and their 13-year-old son hostage at gunpoint.

He also stated that the accused looted 14 tola of gold ornaments, Rs1.35 million in cash, four mobile phones, cheques worth over Rs2.2 million, and a licensed weapon.

During the trial, the defence claimed innocence and maintained that the accused was falsely implicated in the case. However, the court rejected the contentions of the defence, stating that the claim lacked substantiation as the accused had failed to produce any credible evidence in support to his contention.

It added that the defence did not provide cogent explanation as to why the complainant and other witnesses had testified against him before the court.

“The use of a deadly weapon to intimidate defenseless victims amplifies the heinous nature of this crime, which not only caused substantial material loss but also inflicted deep psychological trauma on the victims. The court is not persuaded by the defence’s plea for leniency, as it does not adequately address the egregious nature of the crime,” it added.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2025