KARACHI, Feb 15: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Saturday a worker of the Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi, a banned religious organization, to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment in a bomb blast case.
Judge Feroze Mehmood Bhatti of the ATC-2, who conducted the trial inside the Central Prison, Karachi, also imposed a fine of Rs10,000 on Mohammed Ahmed Daniyal, who would have to undergo an additional three month’s RI if he failed to pay the fine.
Daniyal was charged with planting two explosive devices in a building, where members of the Ismaili community were holding a function for their spiritual leader. One of the devices exploded, injuring a few people and damaging some motorcycles.
The Pirabad police had initially registered the case against unknown culprits on December 13, 2001.
According to the prosecution, the Harkat worker, arrested on July 16, 2002, during interrogation confessed his involvement in the bomb blast.
Special Public Prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum examined a total of 15 prosecution witnesses against the accused. The PWs also included two eyewitnesses, who had also identified the Harkat activist before a judicial magistrate during identification parade.
The testimony of the judicial magistrate, who had conducted the identification parade, and the depositions of the two eyewitnesses - a rickshaw driver and a taxi driver - were the major pieces of evidence, which led to the conviction.
The drivers were waiting for passengers in front of the religious building and they saw the accused carrying a bag inside the building and then coming out empty-handed. As the accused along with his accomplices, who were waiting for him, left the scene, the bomb exploded, the two witnesses deposed.
CASE AGAINST LAHORI: Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 put off the hearing of a sectarian killing case against the chief of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Akram Lahori, and two others.
The judge, who is conducting the trial inside the Central Prison, Karachi, fixed Monday for the next hearing after defence lawyer Maqboolur Rahman sought adjournment due to paucity of time.
Lahori, Mohammed Azam and Ataullah are facing trial for killing Dr Syed Aley Safdar Zaidi of the Kidney Centre on March 4, 2002.
The doctor was on his way to the hospital from his Gizri residence when two motorcyclists opened fire on his car (ABU-495) when he stopped at a traffic signal near Sultan Masjid. He died on the spot.
KIDNAPPING CASE: Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 recorded the statements of two prosecution witnesses in a kidnapping for ransom case against two accused.
Mohammed Rafique and Abdul Ghaffar, both hailing from Punjab, are being prosecuted for kidnapping a college student for ransom on Dec 19 last year in the police limits of Al-Falah.
Mohammed Abid, a first-year student, was on way to his college when Rafique, who hailed from the victim’s hometown, Liyyah, allegedly took him along with him on the pretext of showing his house in the city.
According to the prosecution, the accused confined the kidnapped young man in a house at Hazrat Bilal Colony, Korangi, and they demanded Rs1.2 million ransom for his release.
Accused Rafique was allegedly arrested red-handed on Dec 22 in Saddar, where he had gone to receive the ransom money from the hostage’s father.
Later, Rafique led to the recovery of the hostage and the arrest of co- accused Ghaffar.
Special Public Prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa examined Mohammed Hanif and Irfan Nadim, father and brother-in-law of Abid, respectively, as the first two prosecution witnesses.
The judge fixed Monday for the next hearing of the case and ordered the prosecution to produce other prosecution witnesses on the next date.