ATC sentences one to death for inmate’s murder

Directs prosecution to provide case copies to Haleem, others in vandalism, rioting cases

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) sentenced a man to death after he was found guilty of shooting dead a prisoner, who was brought to the Malir district court for a hearing.

Announcing the verdict at the Anti-Terrorism Complex in Karachi Central Jail, ATC No16 handed convict, Kifayatullah, the death sentence and directed him to pay Rs200,000 blood money to the heirs of the deceased.

Moreover, the ATC sentenced Kifayatullah to 10 years in prison and imposed on him a fine of Rs30,000 in a case pertaining to possession of illegal weapons.

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According to the prosecution, the suspect had shot dead a prisoner, who was produced before the Malir district court to attend a hearing of the case against him in 2020. The slain prisoner, Khushdil, was nominated in a murder case lodged at Quaibabad Police Station and was accused of killing Kifayatullah's son, Ahsan.

Case against Haleem

Meanwhile, an ATC directed the prosecution to provide Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA and opposition leader in Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh the copies of cases against him.

Six months past, the prosecution has yet to provide the copies of the cases to Haleem and others accused of vandalism and violence during the PS-88 by-election in Karachi.

Haleem and other accused appeared before the court but the investigating officers of the cases did not appear.

The respondents informed the court that they have yet to receive the copies of the cases against them and want them to prepare their defence.

The court directed the prosecution to provide copies of the cases to the defendants at the next hearing slated for September 27.

According to the police, the accused have been booked for interfering in the PS88 by-election, in an encroachment operation and rioting. One of the cases against Haleem was lodged at Memon Goth Police Station of ​​Malir district.

Meanwhile, Haleem and other nominees in the FIR have filed a petition seeking the removal of the anti-terrorism clauses from the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2021.