Crime and punishment: Policeman’s killers given life in prison

Two men shot and killed a police constable during an encounter three years ago

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court sentenced on Wednesday two men to life in prison after convicting them of killing a policeman during an encounter three years ago.

Muhammad Sabir and Muhammad Saeed were found guilty of killing constable Raja Jaleel in a shootout within the remits of the PIB Colony police station. They were accused of attacking a police team approaching them in a bid to prevent their arrest.

On the night of March 9, 2012, the suspects came face to face with law enforcers on main University Road. The police had asked them to surrender but instead the suspects opened fire and attacked, as a result of which constable Jaleel was injured. The injured policeman was rushed to the Liaquat National Hospital but succumbed to his wounds during treatment. Three separate cases were lodged against the suspects, who were apprehended at the scene of the encounter.



The ATC-X judge, Abdulllah Afzal Khan, while pronouncing his verdict, observed that the prosecution proved its charges against the accused persons, as the testimonies of the witnesses remained firm and unsheltered. He, therefore, held the suspects guilty of the offence.

They have been awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 for murdering the policeman. If they fail to pay the fine, they will spend an additional six months in prison. They were handed seven-year jail terms for possessing illicit arms, five years for attempted murder and two years for attacking law enforcers.