Illegal arms: Suspected terrorist sentenced to 21 years

Accused was found to be in possession of explosives and an unlicensed pistol

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) earlier this week sentenced a suspected militant to 21 years imprisonment for the possession of various weapons and explosives.

Zubair, alias Laddu, was arrested last year during a raid conducted by security forces following a tip-off in Karachi's Garden area.

According to reports, a hand grenade along with an unlicensed pistol was seized from Laddu's possession, following which police took him into custody, booking him in two separate FIRs.

The case was heard in ATC-III as well as ATC-VI where a number of witnesses were produced who testified against the suspect.

A number of witnesses were produced before the court who testified against the suspect. On the other hand, the suspect repeatedly denied charges and pleaded innocent, adding that he was falsely implicated in the case.

Further, Abdul Naeem Memon, judge for ATC-VI passed a judgement which found the suspect guilty of the offense. Judge Memon subsequently, sentenced the accused for 14 years in prison for illegal possession of explosives, while another seven years were awarded for owning a pistol without an official license.

Read: Illegal possession: ANF makes seven arrests from Rawalpindi, Gilgit

"The sentences collectively add up to 21 years, though the accused will spend only 14 years in prison as both sentences will run concurrently," the judgement read.

The judgment came on the day when lawyers across the city a strike, boycotting court proceedings in protest against the killing of their colleague, Ameer Haider.

Haider, a former joint secretary of the Karachi Bar Association was shot dead in an act of targeted killing in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Friday evening.