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QUETTA, Jan 7: A Balochistan High Court bench comprising Justice Fazalur Rehman reduced sentences of four accused persons in a corruption case and issued warrants against one of them for absconding.
The accused, Abdul Salam Rodini, ex-assistant commissioner, Rahim Bakhsh, ex-Tehsildar, Hazoor Bakhsh, ex-Qanoongo, and Mohammed Akbar, ex-Patwari, of Bhag, were charged with preparing forged documents of the property of a deceased person and transferring it. They allegedly prepared forged documents of the property of Sardar Aslam Moghairi, who was murdered in May 1994, and transferred it in the names of Zafar Moghairi, step-brother of the deceased, and Jalal Khan.
Special judge, anti-corruption, Balochistan, awarded Abdul Salam 18 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs60,000 fine in absentia. Rahim Bakhsh, Hazoor Bakhsh and Mohammed Akbar were awarded three years RI and Rs30,000 fine.
Abdul Salam filed an application in the BHC against the judgment.
The BHC cancelled the fine and reduced the sentence of the applicant to three years RI and that of the other accused to one-and-a-half year RI.
The bench also issued warrants against the applicant for not appearing before the court.
SENTENCE CHANGED: A division bench of Balochistan High Court on Tuesday converted the sentence of 14 years RI of a person to life term in a murder case.
Bashir Ahmed had killed Ghulam Dastgir in November 1999 in Surab. The Kalat sessions judge awarded him 14 years RI and Rs200,000 fine. The court also sentenced him to one year RI and Rs1,000 fine under Arms Ordinance.
A relative of the deceased, Murad Mohammed, filed a criminal revision petition in the BHC for enhancement of the sentence.
The accused also filed an appeal in the high court against the judgment. The high court heard the applications together.
The bench, comprising Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and Justice Fazalur Rehman, converted Section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code into Section 302(b) and enhanced the sentence to life imprisonment as Tazir. It set aside the fine of Rs200,000 and directed the accused to pay Rs50,000 as compensation to the heirs of the deceased. It also reduced the additional term from one year to six months in case of default in payment of fine. The sentence under Section 13-E of Arms Ordinance was kept intact.
ACQUITTED: The bench acquitted an accused in a murder case and ordered his immediate release if he was not required in any other case.
It announced the judgment after hearing the appeal filed by the accused, Karim Dad, against the verdict of special judge for suppression of terrorist activities, Kalat.
The appellant had been sentenced to 10 years RI and Rs50,000 fine for allegedly abetting the killing of Mohammed Yaqoob, Dilawar Khan and Mohammed Jan in July 2000 in Dasht.—APP
