-Imposes Rs. 40m fine on both terrorists
-FO says ATC’s Judgment demonstrates Pakistan’s abiding commitments to counter terrorism
-Renews Islamabad’s pledge to safety and security of Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects
ISLAMABAD: In a major breakthrough, a special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has handed over death sentence to two accused of a terrorist attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers working at Dasu Hydropower Project.
The court also imposed Rs 40 million fine on both the convicted terrorists, besides awarding them a total of around 800 years of imprisonment beside life imprisonment. All the sentences shall run concurrently. Benefits of Section 382–B CrPC has also been extended in favour of the accused.
Following the latest Judgment, Foreign Office (FO) on Monday said that the verdict in the 2021 Dasu bus attack case had demonstrated Pakistan’s “abiding commitment to counter terrorism”.
The statement from FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch comes after an anti-terrorism court in Hazara awarded a death sentence to two men after convicting them for planning the attack.
Responding to a question at a weekly press briefing yesterday, Baloch said that the FO had noted the judgment passed by the relevant court and the details released by the local police.
“While specific queries may be directed to the relevant authorities, the proactive investigation, prosecution, and judgment in this case have once again demonstrated Pakistan’s abiding commitment to counterterrorism,” she said.
The spokesperson extended deepest condolences to the victims’ families and promised that Pakistan remains committed to the safety and security of Chinese workers, projects, and institutions in the country.
“The ironclad Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership will never be undermined by hostile forces,” Baloch vowed.
ATC Special Court Judge Sajjad Ahmed Jan delivered the verdict in a camp court, established at Central Jail Haripur (CJH) after the completion of the case hearing where the two were found guilty and sentenced 801-year imprisonment. The court also issued orders to release the four other accused for not being guilty.
The ATC special court sentenced the accused Muhammad Hussain, alias Syed Muhammad alias Zawan alias Mama, son of Abdul Rahim age 49, resident of Sabin Burat, Tehsil, Matta, Swat, and Muhammad Ayaz, alias Jan, 42, resident of Zurai Balu Jabril Tehsil, Matta Swat, and awarded each death penalty on 13 counts and 800-year imprisonment.
The court ordered hanging each convict on 13 counts for the crime under section 302 PPC on 13 counts and 7-ATA. They were also imposed a 1.5 million fine per victim which the heirs of the deceased, would receive and ordered one-year additional imprisonment in case of non-payment of the fine by the convicts.
The ATC special court also ordered under Section 324 PPC, 32-time 10-year imprisonment for an attempt to murder each convict, two-year imprisonment under Section 337 PPC, two-year imprisonment under Section 427 PPC, and a fine of one million, six months imprisonment under Terrorist Act, Section 11-F (2) ATA, 1996, six months imprisonment under 120/B PPC, life imprisonment under 3/4 EXP for use of explosives.
The other punishments that were awarded to both convicted were under section 21 (I) ATA 1997, sentenced to life imprisonment and six months in prison in 202 PPC. The court acquitted both the accused as the charge in Section 353 PPC and section 21-J ATA were not proved.
The special ATC ordered to release four other accused in the case including Shaukat Ali, Anwar Ali, and Fazal Hadi residents of Matta Swat and another accused who was already on bail, was also acquitted.
CTD Hazara Region Abbottabad registered case No 08 on 14 July 2021 against the Dasu terrorist attack and arrested the accused, who were later transferred to Abbottabad and Central Jail Haripur. The trial of the accused was conducted by Special Anti-Terrorism Judge Sajjad Ahmad Jan by holding a camp court at Central Jail Haripur.
Thirteen people — including nine Chinese nationals, two personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and two locals — were killed and 28 others sustained injuries when a coach carrying them to an under-construction tunnel site of the 4,300-megawatt Dasu hydropower project fell into a ravine in the Upper Kohistan area after an explosion last year.
The Chinese and Pakistani nationals worked on the Dasu hydropower project in the Upper Kohistan district. Although the Foreign Office had initially termed the incident an accident, the government later said traces of explosives had been found and that “terrorism could not be ruled out.” –Agencies
