ATC sentences man to death for killing four cops

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday handed down death sentence on four counts to a man said to be associated with a political party for the murder of four police officials.

Mohammad Asif, alias Katoo, was found guilty of killing ASI Aqeel Ahmed and three constables — Mohammad Anwar, Jameel Ahmed and Mohammad Akhtar — in a targeted attack at a restaurant in the Korangi area in August 2015.

The ATC-XX judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his order reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides. "I am of the considered view that the prosecution has proved its charges against the accused namely Asif alias Katoo without any reasonable shadow of doubt as the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses inspire confidence," he ruled.

The judge ordered that the accused be hanged by neck till he was dead on four counts with the forfeiture of his property as required under the Section 7(2) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

The convict was also told to pay Rs200,000 on account of each murder and in case of default, he would have to undergo six-month imprisonment. He was also awarded five-year rigorous imprisonment and Rs20,000 fine for causing injuries to two other men in the attack.

Additionally, the judge sentenced him to seven years in jail with a fine of Rs20,000 for robbing the slain cops of their official weapons and another five years for possessing an unlicensed weapon.

The death sentence is subject to confirmation by the Sindh High Court. The judge, however, acquitted accused Faheem Ahmed Lodhi of the charge of abetment for lack of evidence.

State Prosecutor Iqbal Meo Rajput contended that on August 12, 2015, Asif along with his accomplices Mohammad Bilal and Abdul Salam in the furtherance of their common intention opened fire on four police officials who were having lunch at Hanif Nihari in Korangi 5½ G-Area, killing them on the spot.

He said a bystander and the owner of the eatery, Mohammad Raees, also sustained injuries in the attack, adding that the accused had taken away the official weapons of the slain cops before fleeing.

The prosecutor mentioned that two of the attackers, Bilal and Abdul Salam, were later killed in an encounter on March 13, 2016. He said Asif had admitted his guilt before the police and was identified by a witnesses during an identification parade before a judicial magistrate.

Meo said a Kalashnikov used in the crime was recovered from an abandoned snooker club on the basis of the information provided by the accused after which another case was lodged against him for possession of illicit arms.

Initially, an FIR was lodged at the Zaman Town police station under the sections 302 (murder), 324 (attempted murder), 397 (robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 109 (punishment of abetment), and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with the Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.