A sessions court has sentenced two men to seven years in prison for robbing two individuals of their mobile phones in Karachi’s Malir area.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon found the two suspects – identified as Anwar Zeb Khan and Suleman – guilty of the crime, which occurred in June 2024 outside an office near Ghousia Market within the jurisdiction of the Saudabad police station.
In the verdict, Judge Memon emphasized that releasing criminals based on minor contradictions would not serve the public interest. He highlighted that such criminals instill fear in society, often leading to the loss of lives and property.
The court also sentenced Anwar to an additional seven years for possession of an illegal firearm seized from him during the robbery.
The case details, as outlined by state prosecutor Syed Khursheed Bukhari, revealed that the victims were standing outside the office gate when three men on a motorcycle held them at gunpoint, robbing them of mobile phones, cash, and other valuables.
The complainant raised an alarm, prompting a public patrol to apprehend one of the suspects, Anwar, while the other two fled, meanwhile, Suleman was later arrested based on information from the detained suspect.
During the trial, Suleman’s defense lawyer argued that his client’s involvement was based solely on the statement of a co-accused, which lacked legal validity.
He also claimed there were no independent witnesses or an identification parade.
The court ruled that the absence of such details did not undermine the prosecution’s case, acknowledging that victims of traumatic events may not recall specific features of the assailants.
The case was registered at the Saudabad police station under Sections 397 (robbery or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or serious injury), 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, and Section 23 (i)(a) of the Sindh Arms Act, 2013.
