Street criminal handed down seven-year imprisonment over robbery in Korangi

A sessions court has sentenced a street criminal to a total of 14 years in prison in cases pertaining to robbery and possession of illicit arms.

Khalid Hussain was found guilty of robbing a general store within the jurisdiction of the Korangi Industrial Area (KIA) police station in February this year and possessing an unlicensed weapon.

Additional Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon observed that the prosecution successfully established the cases against the accused beyond any shadow of doubt. He awarded seven-year imprisonment to the convict for the offence punishable under the Section 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The judge handed down another seven-year imprisonment to the accused for possession of an unlicensed pistol as punishable under the Section 23(i)(a) of the Sindh Arms Act 2013. The convict was also ordered to pay a fine amounting to Rs20,000 or undergo an additional two-month imprisonment over default.

"It may not be forgotten that nowadays, the crime ratio has increased in the Karachi city and every individual feel insecure at the hands of looters and the impact of insecurity affects the social and economic activities in the city," the judge noted.

"Therefore, the persons so involved in such like cases do not deserve any leniency."

The court put the case against absconding accomplice Rashid on dormant file till his arrest or surrender.

According to the prosecution, on February 13, 2024, complainant Muhammad Ali Khan and his son were present at his general store in Allahwala Town. He left for taking tea but when he returned, he found his son weeping who informed him that two persons on a motorcycle had stormed the shop and stolen the entire cash that was earned over the past two to three days as well as his licensed pistol.

On February 16, 2024, the accused was arrested on the pointation of the complainant and a 30-bore pistol was seized from his possession.

In his statement recorded under the Section 342 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said he was implicated in false cases as nothing was seized from his possession.

Two separate FIRs were lodged at the Korangi Industrial Area police station.