An anti-terrorism court awarded life imprisonment to two men and 14-year jail terms to three others over charges of collecting extortion and possession of illegal arms and explosives.
Five men - Muhammad Yaseen alias Atif, Attaur Rehman alias Atoo, Saddam Hussain alias Sajid, Rafiqul Islam alias Al-Ameen and Muhammad Nadeem - were arrested over allegations of demanding Rs50,000 in extortion from Abideen, the owner of a factory in Korangi Industrial Area.
Police said that the accused were arrested red handed when they had come to receive the extortion amount from the complainant. All the accused were booked under charges of collecting extortion, telegraph act and arms and anti-terror laws.
On Friday, ATC judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso announced the verdict, awarding life imprisonment to Muhammad Yaseen alias Atif, Attaur Rehman alias Atoo. Co-accused Saddam Hussain alias Sajid, Rafiqul Islam alias Al-Ameen and Muhammad Nadeem were ordered to serve 14 years in jail. All would have to undergo one year additional jail term on default to pay Rs70,000 fine each.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2014.
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