ATC sentences LeT leader Lakhvi to 5 years in prison for terror financing

Court also awards Rs300,000 fine for running a medical dispensary to collect, disburse funds for terror activities

LAHORE:

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday convicted Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the alleged founders of the banned Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), of terrorism financing and awarded him jail terms of five years, concurrently on three counts, along with a cumulative fine of Rs300,000.

Lakhvi was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab from Lahore on Friday last. He was arrested in connection with running a medical dispensary to collect funds for terrorism financing. The CTD had registered the first information report (FIR) and conducted investigation.

ATC-III Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar handed down 5 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs100,000 each on three counts. However, all the three sentences will run, concurrently. In default of payment of fine, Lakhvi will undergo an imprisonment of six months each on the three counts.

During the court proceedings, a law officer had argued that evidences about the accused’s involvement in terrorism funding were on record and that the accused was liable to be punished under the relevant law provisions.

The court was informed that Lakhvi was a founding member of the banned LeT, which was proscribed in the country in 2002 due to its involvement in the terrorism, while the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) has also imposed financial restrictions on him.

However, the defence counsel argued that the prosecution’s case was based on hearsay evidence. He further argued that information provided by an informer, mentioned in the case, was not his direct knowledge, and that the prosecution had not produced the source.

The defence side argued that hearsay evidence was inadmissible and could not be relied upon by the trial court. The lawyer said that the prosecution had failed to prove that the accused had any nexus with the banned LeT.

Accused’s statement

Lakhvi, in his statement had claimed that he had been falsely implicated in this case due to “malice, ulterior motives and extraneous consideration”. He said that the prosecution witnesses were government functionaries and they had made false statements under pressure of their high ups.

“I have no nexus with the ‘Lashkar-e-Tayyaba’ or any other proscribed organisation,” he said, according to the case papers. “Neither any funds were raised or possessed nor any terrorist action/activity relating to terrorism was financed, abetted, instigated by me,” he added.

According to the judgment, the dispensary mentioned in the case was under the control of the proscribed LeT and it was used for terrorist activities. “Hence, it is established that accused, a proscribed person, is involved in receiving said property for terrorist activities,” it added.

A CTD statement said Lakhvi was convicted for commission of offences of terrorism financing. “Lakhvi has been sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment each on three counts with fine of Rs100,000 each on three counts,” the statement said.

(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)