Two muggers jailed for seven years

A sessions court has sentenced two muggers to seven-year imprisonment in a robbery case. Ameer Hamza and Muhammad Bilal were found guilty of robbing a citizen at gunpoint within the jurisdiction of the Korangi Industrial Area police station in September 2021.

Additional Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon ruled that the prosecution succeeded in establishing the case against the accused persons beyond any shadow of doubt. "It is relevant to point out here that nowadays street crimes have increased rapidly and every human being who is living in the city feels insecure in all respects, thus in order to curb them, no leniency is warranted," the judge observed.

Separately, the court awarded Ameer Hamza seven years’ imprisonment and a Rs20,000 fine for possessing an unlicensed weapon. According to the prosecution, on September 28, 2021, two men on a motorcycle intercepted the complainant near Allama Amjad Shaheed Masjid in KDA Employees Society and robbed him of a mobile phone and cash at gunpoint. On seeing a police patrol team, it said, the victim raised a hue and cry, alerting it to the fleeing muggers.

Acting swiftly, the police chased and apprehended the two men, who identified themselves as Ameer Hamza and Muhammad Bilal, the prosecution said, adding that the police recovered the looted belongings of the complainant, as well as six other mobile phones from accused Bilal. It further mentioned that an unlicenced 30-bore pistol was seized from accused Ameer Hamza.

In their statement, however, the accused denied the prosecution's allegations claiming that nothing was recovered from them and that police foisted the weapon and alleged looted items upon them. Two separate FIRs were lodged at the KIA police station against under Sections 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 23(i)(a) of the Sindh Arms Act.