FAISALABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court handed down on Thursday four-time life imprisonment to Ayaz, another accused in Asghar Ali alias Bhola Gujjar murder case. The judge, Pervaiz Akhtar, also fined Rs2 million to the convict.

The deceased, a close associate of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, was gunned down along with his driver Siddique near Sita Ram Temple just a few metres away from the Jhang Bazaar police station in January this year. Ayaz was declared a proclaimed offender and police arrested him in Dubai and brought him to Pakistan in the last week of October.

On Oct 21 last, the same court had handed down death sentence on four counts to Naveed alias Commando and Nafees alias Goga, with Rs1 million fine each, and as much amount for compensation to the bereaved families.

Their two accomplices, former union council nazim Anjum Niaz and constable Tahir, had been awarded life imprisonment on four counts, with a fine and compensation of Rs2 million.

In his confessional statement recorded before the ATC judge on July 15 last, the Commando alleged that he had gunned down Bhola, Arshad Lohar, Khurram and Aslam Jorra on the direction of Rana Sanaullah and former SHO Farrukh Waheed.

To verify his statement, the judge directed City Police Officer Afzaal Kausar to probe the allegation. SSP Operations Irfanullah conducted an inquiry and recorded the statements of some people, including Rana Sanaullah, and submitted the report on Nov 30, saying the allegations of convicted target killer Commando against Rana Sanaullah had not been verified.

He said the arrest of the remaining POs and technical evidence including data of mobile phones and internet messengers would help police find facts.

Rana Sana has denied having any kind of contact or relations with the Commando who, he said, was playing in the hands of his political rivals.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2015