KARACHI, Oct 13: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Saturday two extortionists to five years in prison.

Mohammad Adnan alias Danish and Umeed Ali, said to be workers of a nationalist party, were found guilty of extorting money from the general manger of a company by putting him in fear of death within the remit of the Korangi Industrial Area police station in January.

Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso of ATC-I read out the conviction order after recording evidence and hearing arguments from both sides.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs20,000 each and in case of default the convicts would have to spend six more months in prison.

According to the prosecution, the accused and their absconding accomplice, Rafiq Ahmed Memon, had demanded Rs50,000 from Yasir Wahid, general manager of Sino-Pak company situated in KIA.

On Jan 2 the police arrested the accused persons when they came to the company to collect the protection money, it added.

A case (FIR 4/12) was registered against the accused under Sections 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act 1997 on a complaint of a sales officer of the company.

The accused were produced in court in custody and the judge extended to them the benefit of Section 382-B (period of detention to be considered while awarding sentence of imprisonment) of the criminal procedure code and remanded them back to prison to serve out their remaining sentence.

Indian fishermen

A judicial magistrate remanded on Saturday 24 Indian fishermen in prison for fishing in Pakistani waters.

The Maritime Security Agency detained the fishermen and seized their four fishing boats after finding them fishing inside the Exclusive Economic Zone of Pakistan.

The police produced the fishermen in the court of a judicial magistrate (west) and the court sent them in judicial custody on remand till Oct 25 and directed the investigating officer to file a report on next hearing. A case (FIR 239/12) was registered against them under Sections 3/4 of the Foreigners Act and 3/9 of the Fisheries Act at the Docks police station.