The ATC-II, after recording evidence and hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence counsels, convicted Abdul Hameed Bugti and sentenced him to multiple terms.
Bugti was handed down the death sentence for murder, life in jail for possessing and using explosive material, seven years on charges of attempted murder and 14 years for damages to the building. The court also imposed a total fine of Rs1.8 million on him with directions to pay Rs0.2 million each to the legal heirs of the deceased and Rs50,000 to the injured.
The court also ordered to seize moveable and immoveable property of the accused. The prosecution examined 20 witnesses in the case to prove charges against him.
Bugti was facing charges under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code that deal with murder, attempted murder, common intent, causing mischief and abetment, sections 3 and 4 of the Explosives Act, and section 7 of the Anti- Terrorism Act of 1997.
Four security guards - Sabz Ali, Iftekhar, Javed Iqbal and Noor Rehamn - were killed and 21 others wounded when a powerful car bomb exploded in front of the PIDC House.
Bugti, who is believed to be the 'mastermind' behind the blast, was arrested on June 29, 2007 within the limits of the Garden police station and was subsequently sent to jail. On May 31, 2007 ATC-V had sentenced two brothers, Mangla Khan and Aziz Khan, co-conspirators of the blast, to death on count of murder and also sentenced them to 10 years in prison for injuring people. The court also sentenced the two brothers to life imprisonment for possessing and using explosive materials.
A case, No.145/2005, under sections on premeditated murder, attempted murder, mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs50, punishment of abetment, common intention of the Pakistan Penal Code read with section 3/4 of Explosives Act and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Court, 1997, was registered at Artillery Maidan Police Station in 2005.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2014.
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Now carry out the sentence in an expeditious manner.
Death sentence for murder, life in jail for using explosive material, seven years for attempted murder, 14 years for damages, plus fines of PKR 2.8 million.
The year is 2014 and this took place in 2005. Frankly, if the system worked he would have been sentenced a long time back. by the time the sentence starts operation and the fines are paid he will have died a natural death in case he sees jail. That's why our laws are outmoded and outdated. Salams