An anti-terrorism court handed jail term with fine to two members of an outlawed group after charges of illegal funding and land grabbing in Surjani Town were proved against them.

The ATC awarded 15-and-a-half years’ combined jail sentence and imposed Rs80,000 fine to Mohammad bin Shehzad and Rehan, two operatives of a banned group.

The convicts would have to undergo 14 months more imprisonment if they failed to pay the fine.

The ATC judge also ordered inquiry over adding a member of the banned group in the witnesses of the prosecution. “The investigation officer tried to weaken the case by presenting a member of the banned group as a prosecution witness,” the court observed.

The court ordered the AIG Counter Terrorism Department to institute an inquiry and take action against the investigation officer of the case within 30 days.

The court also questioned that if the encroached land was returned back to the members of the banned group after freeing it from illegal possession. The court issued an order to the Chief Secretary to revisit and reconsider the matter.

The court in its observations noted that electricity and gas connections should not be given to illegally encroached plots, as it results in power and gas loadshedding.

“The power and gas connections to encroached plots, could not be possible without support from the concerned staff of the gas and power companies,” the court observed.

The court also ordered to dispatch a copy of its verdict to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).–INP