Traders’ killer gets death penalty

The accused tried to snatch gold from the two traders in 2013

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) awarded the death sentence to Munawar David, who was charged with the murders of two traders during a robbery bid. The court twice announced the death penalty for David and ordered him to pay Rs2 million as penalty. The court ordered that the accused will have to further spend a year in jail if the penalty sum is not paid. According to the police, the accused, along with his accomplices, tried to snatch gold from the two traders in 2013. On resistance, the accused opened fire, killing Ayaz and Mukhtar as a result. One accused Imam Bakhsh was also killed in the fire and another accused, Imran, managed to escape.

Another ATC on Thursday convicted three members of a Lyari-based gang on charges relating to attack on police personnel, possession of illegal weapons and explosive materials. The court awarded 24 years in prison to Saeed alias Kaka along with a fine of Rs0.1m and 17 years of imprisonment to Imtiaz Bangali and Talha along with a fine of Rs50,000. The accused were arrested within the limits of Kalakot Station during a joint operation by the Rangers and police.

Meanwhile, another ATC provided the case file to accused Khalid in the Amal murder case. On the next hearing on November 3, the charge-sheet will be submitted. The hearing of Amal’s murder during robbery was heard before the special ATC in Karachi Central Jail. The court also approved the C-class report regarding the killing of accused Shehzad during the police encounter. According to police, the accused confessed to seven more theft crimes. Accused Khalid used to conduct crimes in a rickshaw. He was arrested after the encounter with the police while his accomplice Shehzad was killed on the spot. Two cases are registered against Khalid. In this matter, a murder case against two police personnel is registered in which the police personnel have gained protective bail.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2018.