20000304

ATA bench

reduces

imprisonment term

KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Appellate (ATA) bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) comprising Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Ghulam Nabi Soomro on Friday reduced 10 years term to seven years awarded to two accused in vehicle snatching case.

The appeals were filed by accused Wahid alias Farhan and Humayn convicted by Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC)-III for Karachi division on October 28, 1999.

According to the prosecution, accused snatched a Suzuki Hi Roof van from complainant Nazeer Ahmed at gun point in the jurisdiction of PS Alfalah on July 10, 1999.

The accused were arrested while riding in the snatched vehicle after an encounter with a CIA police party on July 13, 1999, soon after the FIR was lodged with the police.

The accused were tried and sentenced to serve 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) under section 392 PPC along with a fine of Rs 25,000 or in default to undergo RI for one year more. The accused were also given 7 years term and fine of Rs 25,000 under section 7-B of Anti Terrorism Act, 1997 against which they preferred the present appeals.

The ATA bench of SHC after hearing both the sides on Friday modifying the sentence reduced 10 years term to 7 years sentence, while it was also ordered that in case of non-payment of fine the accused will serve six months sentence instead of one year.

Another bench of SHC comprising Chief Justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah and Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali adjourned hearing of a constitutional petition filed by Senator Asif Ali Zardari till March 07.

The petitioner sought direction of the SHC to Home Secretary Sindh to give a copy of report of an enquiry conducted by District and Sessions Judge Malir in case of suicide allegedly attempted by the Asif Zardari, spouse of Benazir Bhutto while in custody of CIA police in connection with double murder case of Justice Nizam Ahmed (Retd) and his son Nadeem Ahmed.ÑAPP