KARACHI: The convict involved in a case pertaining to the targeted killing of a Karachi Development Authority (KDA) officer has been awarded life imprisonment by Anti-Terrorism Court.
The ATC-II judge pronounced her verdict after recording evidence of witnesses and concluding arguments from both sides.
The judge convicted Shahid, alias Japani, and sentenced him to life in prison on two counts. He was charged with murdering KDA officer Abdul Jabbar Mangi in Landhi and injuring his driver, Naeem Ahmed, at Korangi No 2 bus stop on Sept 27, 2013.
A case was registered under Sections 302, 324 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code against him at the Zaman Town police station.
During the trial, the prosecution examined nine witnesses.
The special public prosecutor stated that the accused was a habitual criminal and sought maximum punishment for him after presenting the evidence.
However, defence counsel Muhammad Hanif denied the allegations of the prosecution, arguing that his client had nothing to do with the alleged offence.
He mentioned that the accused while recording his statement under Section 324 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) had produced a newspaper, which showed that he was arrested on April 4, 2014, by the Rangers.
He further contended that his client was already arrested and the weapon was foisted upon him, therefore, pleaded to the court to acquit him.
As per the prosecution witness, sub-inspector Waheed Awan, the accused had pointed out the place of the incident where he had fired at Abdul Jabbar Mangi.
While convicting Shahid, the judge ordered that since the prosecution had delayed sending the pistol used in the crime to the FSL and it had created mitigating circumstances, therefore, he was awarded the lesser sentence of punishment for life imprisonment in the murder and attempt to murder charge.
The judge further ordered that since the charge of terrorism also stood proved the convict was further sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life under the Section 7(ff) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.
