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ATC sentences two ‘MQM-L hitmen’ to 21 years in jail
[DAWN] An antiterrorism court on Wednesday awarded 21-year imprisonment to two convicts, said to be associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement...English: United National Movement, generally known as MQM, is the 3rd largest political party and the largest secular political party in Pakistain with particular strength in Sindh. From 1992 to 1999, the MQM was the target of the Pak Army's Operation Cleanup leaving thousands of urdu speaking civilians dead... ’s London faction, in cases pertaining to possessing explosives and illicit weapons. The convicts ‐ Mohammad Irshad and Mohammad Bilal Lodhi ‐ were found guilty of possessing explosive substances and illegal arms with an intent to target the leaders of the MQM’s Pakistain faction and other political parties on the occasion of the July 25 general elections in Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... The judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced the verdict, which was earlier reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides. The judge awarded them a collective sentence of 21-year imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs60,000 each. They would undergo an additional 18-month imprisonment each on default. According to the prosecution, the Rangers and police had conducted a joint intelligence-based operation in Orangi Town and detained Irshad and Lodhi on July 18. During the interrogation, the convicts had disclosed that they were planning the liquidation of politicians to sabotage the peace prior to the polls under orders of their party leaders. It further alleged that the MQM-L’s South Africa network, led by Qamar Islam Teddi, had set up murder teams in June to assassinate rival political candidates, including those who had left the MQM-L, to sabotage holding of peaceful elections. The prosecution further alleged that both the convicts had admitted to have been provided with financial resources by the MOM’s London secretariat. It claimed that the convicts were assigned the initial task to kill Mohsin Javed and Arif Hussain Qureshi, who were contesting elections on PS-128 from the platform of the Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz and Pakistain Peoples Party, respectively. Besides, the Pak Sarzameen Party’s office-bearers in Gulbahar Moin and Azhar were also on their list, it added. Posted by: Fred 2018-12-14 |
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