Two handed down life imprisonment for killing cop

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday handed down rigorous imprisonment for life to two men said to be associated with the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for killing a policeman on the eve of Independence Day in 2020.

Taskheer Ahmed, alias Lamba, and Shahzaib, alias Tamba, were found guilty of shooting to death Head Constable Mohammad Ali of the traffic police at the Karimabad Chowk underneath the Liaquatabad flyover on August 13, 2020.

The ATC-XX judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, announced his order after hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution sides. He said the prosecution succeeded in establishing its case against the accused.

He awarded both the convicts rigorous imprisonment for life for the murder of the policeman. They were also handed down seven-year imprisonment for robbing the victim's friend of his mobile phone.

The convicts were ordered to pay a collective fine of Rs220,000 or undergo an additional nine-month imprisonment. Accused Shahzaib was awarded five-year imprisonment and Rs20,000 fine on charges of possessing an unlicensed pistol.

State prosecutor Iqbal Meo contended that on August 13, 2020, four men on two motorcycles targeted and killed the head constable who was performing his traffic duty at the Karimabad Chowk.

He said the accused had also deprived the victim's friend, who was standing with him at the time of the incident, of his mobile phone before fleeing the scene. Taskheer and Shahzaib were arrested and their two accomplices — Amir, alias Kala, and Noman, alias Mirza — have been declared proclaimed offenders.

The prosecutor said there was sufficient evidence to corroborate the charges against the accused, pleading with the judge to punish them as per the law.

An FIR was lodged by the CTD under the sections 302 (murder), 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with the Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. A separate case was lodged against Shahzaid under the Section 23(i)A of the Sindh Arms Act at the Liaquatabad police station.