RAWALPINDI, Jan 23: Apparently 219 gas connections, in the Christian slum area of F-7/4, euphemistically known as the ‘French Colony’, were illegal, as decided by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC).

The ATC in Rawalpindi, on Wednesday, awarded 28 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs0.5 million to Bashir Masih, an accused who was involved in the case involving illegal gas connections.

According to allegations, now proven, he was providing illegal gas connections to 219 homes in Christians’ Colony, Sector F-7/4.

However, ATC Judge Rana Masood Akhtar, acquitted three employees of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL), who were also nominated in the gas theft case.

The judge observed that the police could not provide sufficient evidence against the SNGPL employees.

Earlier, Kohsar police station had produced Bashir Masih along with three SNGPL officials.

The SNGPL employees adopted before the court that they were the ones who had identified the gas theft, at the first place, but the police in order to show their efficiency implicated them in the case.

According to the police challan, the accused Bashir Masih and the SNGPL officials provided illegal connections to the residents of Christians’ Colony and were pocketing millions of rupees every month from them.

The police also alleged that Mr Bashir tried to assault police officials, when they tried to arrest him.