20000316

ATA reserves

verdict in vehicle

snatching case

KARACHI: The Ante Terrorism Appellate (ATA) bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) comrising Justice Ghulam Nabi Soomro and Justice S. A. Rabbani on Wednesday reserved judgement in an appeal for March 30.

The bench was hearing an appeal filed by Ali Gohar Jatoi, convicted by the ATC 6 on November 11, 1999 sentencing him to suffer seven years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) in a vehicle snatching case.

The accused was also fined for Rs 20,000 or in default to undergo six months more imprisonment. The accused was tried under section 7 (B) of the ATA read with section 392 PPC.

According to prosecution on August 30, 1999, the accused accompanied two other persons snatched a Toyota Hiace van from Ali Musa, driver of American Consulate at Karachi in the jurisdiction of PS Clifton.

The accused was arrested on November 29, 1999. The council for appellant appearing before the ATA bench contended that trial court failed to appreciate material contradictions.

He submitted that the Judicial Magistrate who held identification parade of the accused has conceded before the trial court that the accused has informed him at the time of identification parade that the complainant has saw him at the PS and than came for identification parade.

Syed Jalil A Hashmi represented the state.

The same bench also granted bail to two accused Abdul Ghaffar and Mohammad Ghafoor against the surety of Rs 200,000 each.

The accused were facing trial on charge of looting a dumper loader truck driver. The counsel for accused/applicant agitated ground of statutory delay to which AAG Jalil A Hashmi also conceded after which the bench granted bail to the accused.ÑAPP