ATC court finds man guilty of extortion

Imran Jahangir has to pay a fine of Rs10,000 and spend eight years in prison.

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court found a man, Imran Jahangir, guilty of extortion and condemned him to eight years in prison on Tuesday.

The third additional district and session’s judge, Central, Rashida Siddiqui, announced the verdict after recording the evidence of witnesses and listening to the arguments made by both sides.

The complainant, Ehteshamul Islam, who works at Honda Motorcycle Company, said Jahangir and his two accomplices asked him to give them Rs500,000. “They threatened Islam with dire consequences in case he fails to pay,” said Islam’s lawyer, Muhammad Shoaib Khan. “Jahangir, who initially used to deliver the threats on phone, told Islam to come to Fine Bakery, North Karachi, to give him the money,” Khan added. “He was annoyed with Islam when he gave him less money than he had demanded.” The police officials patrolling the area arrived at the scene and arrested Jahangir. “They found the extortion money and a pistol in his possession.” Khan also mentioned that the two other suspects managed to escape.

Two cases, No 18/13 under Section 384,385,506,34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Case No 19/13  under section 13-D of the Arms Ordinance, had been lodged against the accused at Sir Syed police station.

The prosecuter examined four witnesses to establish his case while the accused didn’t present a single witness to defend him. “The defence council didn’t put a single question to any of the prosecution witness about any previous grudge or enmity between the accused and complainant,” the judge observed. She also imposed a fine of Rs10,000 on the accused which, in the case of non-payment, would result in additional three months in prison.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2013.