KARACHI: A sessions court sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for possession of around two kilograms of hashish.

District and Sessions Judge (South) Suresh Kumar found Muhammad Imran alias Mani — who appeared in the court on bail — guilty of possessing 1,950gm of charas within the jurisdiction of Baghdadi police station.

In its detailed verdict, the court noted that the prosecution had demonstrated complete unanimity on all major aspects of the case and its evidence was also corroborated by the circumstantial evidence. Therefore, it has been proved through tangible and trustworthy evidence that the accused, Imran, was arrested in July 2022, by patrol police from Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai road and found in possession of 1,950 gram of the drug.

It also cancelled his surety bond and imposed a fine of Rs100,000, on default of which he would serve additional imprisonment.

During the trial, state prosecutor Arshad Mubeen contended that both material witnesses remained consistent regarding the arrest and recovery of the contraband from the possession of the accused. He also submitted that the recovery of the drug was corroborated by the forensic report issued by an expert.

He also argued that there was no delay in the dispatch of the case property to the office of the chemical examiner.

He also maintained that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond a shadow of a doubt, and therefore, the accused might be convicted.

On the other hand, the accused pleaded before the court that he was apprehended from his residence, and he was taken to a police station along with Rs23,000 in cash and his mobile phone. He also claimed that the police implicated him in that case falsely with mala fide intention.

But the court rejected his contention and noted that the accused neither examined himself on oath nor produced evidence in support of his claims.

“Interestingly no direct enmity or ill will was suggested by the accused against the complainant or any of the officials who participated in recovery proceedings,” the order said.

A case was registered at the Baghdadi police station under Section 6/9-C of the Control of Narcotics Act (Sindh, Amendment) Act 2021.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2025