KASUR, Feb 25: Additional District and Sessions Judge Rao Abdul Jabar Khan on Saturday awarded death sentence and a fine of Rs50,000 each to two accused in a sodomy-cum-murder case.

Reports said Waris and Ramzan of Khattee village had abducted Saeed, son of farmer Sabir Ali, in 2001. The accused took him to fields where they committed sodomy with him, strangled him and buried his body there.

The court also awarded them seven-year imprisonment and Rs10,000 fine each for hiding the dead body.

GANG BUSTED: District police on Saturday busted a gang and recovered illicit weapons from their possession at Raiwind Saddar.

On a tip-off, a police party, led by Raiwind Saddar SHO, conducted a raid and arrested Munawar Masih of Okara, his accomplices, Muhammad Yaseen of Lahore, M Ismail and Amanat Ali of Raiwind, Babar Ali of Okara, Javid Masih of Chunian and recovered illicit weapons from their possession. Further investigation is under way.

BLASPHEMY: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam leader Dr M Usman Ghani has condemned the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European papers and US attacks at sacred places in Iraq.

Speaking at a meeting held at the Nia Bazaar mosque here on Saturday, he urged the people to boycott the products of those countries which committed blasphemy.

The meeting was attended by scores of Kasur traders, students and the general public.