KARACHI, Nov 16: A sessions court on Tuesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment in a murder case.

The court found Guldast Khan guilty of killing Jan Mohammad within the remit of the Quaidabad police station in Sept 2001.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (Malir) Shamim Sadozai pronounced the verdict after recording statements of witnesses and final arguments from both sides.

The court also directed the convict to pay Rs100,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of the victim and in case of non-payment he would have to undergo an additional four-month imprisonment.

The court observed in the judgment that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against the accused beyond a shadow of a doubt by placing ample evidence in court.

The court extended the benefit of Section 382-B (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the criminal procedure code to the convict.

He was produced in court in custody and following the pronouncement of the verdict, the judge sent him back to prison along with his conviction warrant to serve out the remainder of his sentence.

According to the prosecution, on Sept 23, 2001 the accused along with his absconding accomplices — Fateh Muhammad and Mohammad Rustam — axed the victim to death over a petty dispute. The victim was a neighbour and a relative of the accused.

Area people captured the accused at the spot while his two accomplices managed to escape.

The police said that the crime weapon was found in the possession of accused. A case was registered against the accused under Section 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the victim’s nephew at the Quaidabad police station.