ATC acquits four suspects for want of evidence

Three others awarded jail terms in separate cases

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday ordered the acquittal of four suspects who were accused for killing two police officials. The accused, who included Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) worker Ubaid K-2, Ishtiaq Police Wala, Abu Irfan and Shafiq Mota, were released as the Rangers' prosecution failed to present evidence to substantiate charges against the accused.

The lawyer for the suspects, Abid Zaman, in his arguments said that no strong evidence was presented against his clients.



According to the police, the suspects had ambushed and killed assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Kamil Murtaza and Asif in open fire at Shafiq Mor on February 27, 2006.

According to the Rangers, the suspects were target killers and have multiple cases registered against them.

Sentenced

Another ATC sentenced a culprit,  Chattal Khan Magsi, to 24-year imprisonment on the charges of possessing illegal weapons and an encounter with police. Announcing the verdict on Friday, the court however released another accused in the case, Bilal, for want of evidence.

According to police, the suspects were arrested from Korangi Industrial Area after an encounter. Weapons were recovered from their possession. A case was registered against the suspects in Korangi Industrial Area in 2016.



A culprit was sentenced to 14-year imprisonment in explosive material case by another ATC. Special court number 10 announced the verdict of explosive material case in Anti-Terrorism Complex in Karachi Central Jail. According to police, culprit, Khalil Ahmed, was arrested from Korangi in 2017 during a raid and explosive material was recovered from his posession. A case was registered against the culprit in Korangi Police Station.

In another case of illegal possession of weapons and encounter with police, an ATC sentenced culprit Waqar Ali to 17 years imprisonment. It also imposed a fine of Rs1.5 lac. The court, however, released another accused, Mumtaz Ali, in the same case due to lack of evidence against him.  According to police, culprit was arrested from Awami Colony after an encounter in which Waqar Ali sustained injuries. A pistol was recovered from his possession and a case was registered against the culprits in Awami Colony Police Station on May 17, 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2018.