ISLAMABAD: In a major breakthrough, a special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday handed over death sentence to two accused of a terrorist attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers working at Dasu Hydropower Project.
It merits mention that ten Chinese engineers and three Pakistanis workers were traveling to the Dasu Hydropower Project construction site on July 14, 2021 when their bus was targeted by terrorists with an car driven by a suicide bomber.
The bus got out of control of the driver due to the impact of the blast and plunged into a deep ravine. The incident led to the death of at least 13 people, including Chinese engineers, two FC officers, and two laborers.
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.
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 also imposed Rs 40 million fine on the convicts.
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.
