RAWALPINDI, March 4: A court here on Thursday awarded seven years imprisonment to a German national arrested at Islamabad International Airport for trying to smuggle heroin.

The additional district and sessions judge, Mian Mohammad Shafi, imposed Rs50,000 fine on the convict, John Ferley. In case of non-payment of fine, the convict will have to undergo another year of jail-term.

The prosecution had contended before the court that the convict had been arrested by the Airport police after 2.5kg of heroin was found from his luggage. Meanwhile, the judge of the special anti-terrorism court no 1, Manzoor Ahmed Mirza, adjourned the hearing of Maulana Azam Tariq murder case till March 20.

The court could not start hearing against chief of the banned Islami Tehrik Pakistan (ITP) Allama Sajid Naqvi, the accused in the murder of Azam Tariq. The hearing was scheduled to be held in Adiala Jail due to security reasons.

The same court also adjourned the hearing in the Shah Najaf Imambargah terrorism case till March 18 as the investigation officer, Inspector Raja Saqlain of Pirwadhai police station, failed to appear before the court due to his preoccupation in his Muharram-related official duty.