Mugger awarded 14 years in prison for snatching motorcycle, possessing illegal weapon

A sessions court has awarded a collective sentence of fourteen years in prison to a mugger in cases pertaining to an armed robbery and possession of illicit arms.

Muhammad Bilal was found guilty of snatching a motorcycle from a citizen at gunpoint in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area on October 16, 2024, and possessing an unlicensed pistol. Additional Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon observed that the prosecution succeeded in establishing its cases against accused Bilal beyond any shadow of doubt. He sentenced the accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for offence punishable under Section 397 (robbery or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The convict was handed down another seven-year imprisonment with a Rs20,000 fine for possessing an unlicensed pistol as punishable under Section 23(i)(a) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013. He would have to undergo additional two month imprisonment upon failure to pay the fine.

The court, however, acquitted co-accused Hammad Ali of robbery charge by extending him the benefit of doubt and ordered jail authorities to release him forthwith if he was not required in any other case.

"It is pertinent to mention here that the prosecution had brought on record much direct, cogent, sound, concrete, coherent and confidence inspiring evidence against the accused Bilal while the private complainant did not recognize the accused Hammad and so also the prosecution did not bring on record any evidence against him which could suggest that he was habitually dealing in retaining/receiving the stolen/robbed properties," observed the judge.

He said: "It has been noticed that nowadays, the street crimes have promptly been increasing day by day and none from the society feel secure at the hands of merciless muggers."

"It has also been noticed that the merciless muggers almost looted the innocent public at large, including men, women, students etc and also caused their murder and injuries on resistance. Thus, the muggers on the one hand had not only deprived the innocent people from their valuable belongings, dignities and honour and on the other hand they also caused them injury or murder without their fault. Thus, under such circumstances, the persons so involved in such like cases do not deserve any leniency and if any leniency is shown then it would amount to bring the lives, liberties, honors, valuable properties of the innocent public at the mercy of unbridled looters," the judge added.

According to the prosecution, on October 16, 2024, complainant Muhammad Haider was going back home from his office on his motorcycle when two persons on a motorcycle intercepted him on Rashid Minhas Road near Aladdin Park in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and snatched his motorcycle at gunpoint.

It said that on November 23, the two accused persons were arrested from Block 13/D-2 Gulshan-e-Iqbal and the snatched motorcycle was recovered from their possession. An unlicensed weapon was also seized from accused Bilal, the prosecution mentioned.

Two separate FIRs of robbery and possession of an illegal weapon were lodged at the Aziz Bhatti and Gulshan-e-Iqbal police stations.