KARACHI, May 20: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Monday a man to life imprisonment for murdering a retired army colonel during robbery four years ago.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 also imposed a fine of Rs200,000 on Badaruddin, who with his accomplice shot Col Bilal Ahmed (retd), a manager of a five- star hotel, on November 2, 1998 in Lines Area. The convict would have to undergo an additional two years’ imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.
The prime accused, Shahzad Chandio, had already been sentenced to death in the case by the same court, and his appeal against the judgment of the trial court is pending in the Sindh High Court.
According to the prosecution, the accused flagged down the car of the colonel, asked him to step out and they shot him dead with a single bullet. The bandits also looted Rs15,000 from the victim, who was on his way, in his chauffeur-driven Margalla, to a car repair shop at Tibet Centre on M. A. Jinnah Road.
The judge also awarded Badaruddin 10 years’ RI with a fine of Rs100,000 for looting the former army officer. The convict would have to undergo an additional one year’s RI if he failed to pay the fine.
ADJOURNED: Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon of an anti-terrorism court adjourned the hearing of a double-murder case against four workers of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan after recording the statements of three more prosecution witnesses.
The case against Dilawar Hussain alias Dildar, Shahzad Maqsood, Abdul Wasim and Mohammed Saeed Awan alias Saeed Kalia pertained to the murder of a muazzin and a watchman of Askari Imambargah on Feb 9 last year in Jauharabad.
According to the prosecution, represented by Mazhar Qayyum, the four accused, with an absconding accused, Asif Ramzi, shot dead muazzin Imtiaz Hussain and watchman Mohammed Abbas.
The special public prosecutor, Mazhar Qayyum, examined inspector Khurram Waris and ASIs Asif and Atif as prosecution witnesses.
The judge put off the hearing to Tuesday when the prosecution would produce its last two witnesses, the investigation officer and the judicial magistrate, who had recorded the confessional statement of an accused.