An Anti-Terrorism Court in Gujrat has sentenced 19 Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) activists to 16 years in jail for killing policemen during protests in Hafizabad, while acquitting 15 others.
A case had been registered against 34 people, by the police, under sections 302, 324, 109, 148 of the Pakistan Penal Code along with sections 6/7 of the Anti Terrorism Act in April this year.
The allegations against the convicts included attacking, injuring, and killing policemen, blocking roads, and disrupting life.
Judge Natasha awarded the convicts 15 years of imprisonment under section 6 of the Anti Terrorism Act and one year under section 148 of the Pakistan Penal code along with a fine of Rs 30,000 each in three different offenses under the Anti Terrorism Act.
According to Dawn, those convicted include Rahmat Ali, Tariq Manzoor, Asghar Ali, Tasleem Yasin, Hassnain Badsha, Sheikh Abdul Razzaq, Farasat Ali, Akmal Shahzad, Muzammal Riasat, Amir Shahzad, Saqib Ali, Ghulam Murtaza, Muhammad Abbas, Muhammad Usman, Iftikhar Hussain, Mansab Ali and Yasin.
Earlier, at the time of the protest, Lahore CCPO Rana Arif said that TLP activist had “brutally tortured” a deputy superintendent of police and took him, along with four other officials, hostage.
Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Information Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, at the time, had said that the attackers kidnapped 12 police officials.
