Two terrorists convicted

LAHORE
AN Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Haroon Latif Tuesday awarded a 35-year jail each to two terrorists affiliated with Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) Pakistan over the charges of keeping explosives to be used in terrorist activities in the areas of Lahore.
The court has also awarded 14-year jail term to each Usman Haider and Zafar Iqbal under Section 4 (Punishment for attempt to cause explosion or for making or keeping explosive with intent to endanger life or property) of the Explosives Substances ACT, 1908. Under Section 5 (Punishment for making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances) of the same act, the court has further sentenced both terrorists for 14 years. The court has also awarded seven years imprisonment to each TTP affiliates. Sheikhupura Police had arrested Usman Haider and Zafar Iqbal in the first quarter of 2014 and had registered a case against them in Sadar Police Station Farooqabad. The police had seized a large quantity of detonators, primer cords, chemical to be used in making bombs and explosives including hand grenades. Later, during the course of investigation, it revealed that both Usman Haider and Zafar Iqbal were affiliated with TTP and the organisation had assigned them a role of carriers of explosives to be used in terror activities. Usman Haider was a resident of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while Zafar Iqbal was a local resident of Village Ajianwala, Rasulpur Bhattian, Sheikhupura.
The police declared guilty both the terrorists in the challan submitted before said court.
On Tuesday, the court after hearing the final arguments of both prosecution and defence convicted said terrorists.
Meanwhile, An Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Rai Ayub Khan Marth awarded 12 years imprisonment to one Talha Hussain over the charges of extorting money from traders.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs75,000 on the convict. In case of default in payment of fine, extortionist Talha Hussain will face further jail term.
Police had registered a case against said convict on a complaint filed by one Shehryar Ali. The complainant, who is a trader by profession, had stated that Talha Hussain was demanding Rs3 million extortion money and extending life threats. The police registered a case against Talha under Section 6(2) (k) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).