MULTAN, Aug 1: An Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday handed down death on seven counts to two convicts for killing six people, five of them policemen. ATC No 1 judge Basheer Ahmad Bhatti awarded capital punishment to Zahid Husain alias Zada and Shahabuddin after declaring them guilty under sections 302-B PPC and 7-ATA. The court awarded life imprisonment on seven counts to their accomplice Ghulam Shabbir alias doctor.

According to the prosecution, Zahid Husain, Shahabuddin, Shabbir and Zahid Abbas opened fire at a police party deputed at the Gulistan Chowk picket in the precinct of New Multan police station on Jan 28, 1999. As a result, ASI Mumtaz Ahmad and constables Zulfiqar Ali, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Shafiq, Muhammad Hayat were killed. Passerby Zakir Husain also fell prey to firing.

The court, however, acquitted Zahid Abbas for want of evidence against him. Police sources said the convicts belonged to the outlawed sectarian outfit, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi.