ATC acquits convict in explosives case

Kamran was earlier sentenced to death for murdering journalist Wali Khan Babar

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) acquitted on Thursday a man convicted for journalist Wali Khan Babar's murder, in another case pertaining to the possession of explosives and weapons.

The police were unable to prove Muttahida Qaumi Movement worker SM Kamran guilty in to case due to a lack of evidence.

Kamran was arrested by the Special Investigation Unit police from Gulshan-e-Maymar on June 15, with the police claiming that weapons and explosives were confiscated from his possession. He had earlier been sentenced to death in absentia for Babar's murder.

Defence lawyer Abid Zaman stated that the prosecution could not present any evidence against his client, adding that the four witnesses presented before the court also did not testify to the claim against him.

Babar, aged 28, was shot dead in Liaquatabad while driving home from his office in the limits of the Super Market police station on January 13, 2011.

According to the police, Kamran had confessed to several murders, including those of witnesses in Babar's murder case.

The murder trial court had handed death sentences to him and another absconder, while four co-accused were given life terms in prison.

Robbery and encounter

Another ATC awarded 29 years of imprisonment to a man along with a penalty of Rs150,000 in a robbery and police encounter case.

The convict, Nadeem, will serve an additional 18 months in prison if he fails to pay the imposed penalty.

According to the plaintiff, Nadeem had robbed a shop in Kalakot, Lyari, in 2018 and was arrested after being injured in a police encounter.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2020.