ATC awards death penalty to Rangers personnel, others get life term

KARACHI: The Anti- Terrorism Court (ATC), Karachi Division awarded death sentence to accused Shahid Zafar, constable of Sindh Rangers and gave life term to six remaining accused in Sarfaraz Shah murder case.

The court also imposed fine of Rs 0.2 million on Shahid Zafar, and Rs. 0.1 million fine to six co-accused which will be paid to the heirs of the deceased as compensation.

Accused Sub-Inspector Bahaur Rehman, Lance Naek Liaquat Ali, Sepoy Muhammad Tariq, Shahid Zafar, Afzal Khan, Driver of the mobile van Manthar Ali and employee of the Park Afsar Khan were present in the court.

The convicts have the right of appeal against the judgment in the Sindh High Court (SHC) within seven days.

The main accused shot dead Sarfaraz Shah on June 8 at Shaheed Benazir Park, Clifton area.

The Boat Basin Police had on June 9 registered a case (FIR 227/2011) under section 302 and 43 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against two constables of Sindh Rangers Mohammad Afzal and Shahid Zafar on complaint of the victim's elder brother Salik Shah.

On June 10, the Chief Justice of Pakistan took suo-moto notice of the incident and appointed DIG West Sultan Ali Khawaja as inquiry officer in the case.

The CJ took cognisance of the tragedy after news channels aired its footage.

On the directives of the apex court, investigation team headed by DIG West Sultan Khawaja began probe and incorporated section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, in the FIR (227/2011) registered against the Rangers personnel and submitted challan to ATC against seven accused on June 27.

The family of the victim expressed satisfaction over the decision of the court in this regard.

The ATC headed by judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso conducted the trial of the case on day-to-day basis and on Friday announced the verdict of the court. (APP)