KARACHI, Aug 1: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Tuesday handed down death sentence to three activists of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, having found them guilty of killing nine persons at an Imambargah in Karachi.

Abdul Wahab Afghani, Shahnawaz alias Shani and Mohammad Shaukat were prosecuted for killing nine persons and injuring eight others at Imambargah Al-Muntazir Al-Mehdi in Al-Falah on Feb 22, 2003.

According to the prosecution, the LJ activists fired on people with automatic weapons when they were going to the Imambargah for offering Maghreb prayers. However, the accused denied charges.

Announcing judgment, the ATC, headed by Judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, observed that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond any shadow of doubt.

The court also sentenced them to an aggregate 30 years in prison and imposed fine for injuring worshipers.

They were also directed to pay Rs100,000 each as compensation to the legal heirs of each victim and Rs50,000 each to the injured.

Abdul Wahab Afghani was sentenced to further seven years in prison with a fine of Rs50,000 for possessing illegal weapons.

The prosecution, represented by Special Public Prosecutor Ghulam Qadir Rajput, placed 23 witnesses, including seven eyewitnesses to prove the guilt of the accused.—PPI