Two ‘BLF men’ awarded 28 years in jail for possessing explosives

An anti-terrorism court has awarded a collective sentence of 28 years in jail to two men, said to be associated with the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), in cases pertaining to possession of explosive material.

Waris Khan and Murad were found guilty of possessing hand grenades within the jurisdiction of the Shah Latif Town police station in April last year.

The ATC-XIII judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex in the central jail, pronounced the order reserved earlier after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides. He awarded both the convicts 14-year imprisonment for offence punishable under Section 4-b (punishment for keeping explosives) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.

They were handed down another 14 years in jail under Section 7 (ff) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The judge ordered both the convicts to pay a Rs100,000 fine each or undergo additional ten-month imprisonment. He also forfeited the whole properties of both the accused to the government.

Additionally, Murad was convicted for possessing an unlicensed weapon and sentenced to seven years in jail with a Rs20,000 fine.

The convicts were remanded back to the prison to serve out the sentences that shall run concurrently.

Three separate cases were lodged against them under sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act and Section 23(i)A of the Sindh Arms Act read with Section 7 (punishment for acts of terrorism) of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Earlier, the two accused were acquitted in a case pertaining to a cracker attack on a police van for lack of evidence.