Robber jailed for 27 years in medical student's killing case.

Byline: Naeem Sahoutara

KARACHI -- An antiterrorism court on Friday sentenced a robber to a collective sentence of 27 years in prison for killing a female medical student during an exchange of gunfire with police.

M. Jumma was found guilty of killing Nimra Baig during an exchange of gunfire with policemen, who were following him.

He was also found guilty of terrorism and possessing illicit weapon.

Baig, a 20-year-old student of final year at the Dow University of Health Sciences, was caught in the crossfire between police and robbers near Anda Mor on Feb 22 within the remit of Sir Syed police station.

The antiterrorism court-XVI judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his judgement reserved after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The judge noted that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against the detained accused beyond a reasonable shadow of doubt.

The judge handed down 10-year imprisonment to the convict with a fine of Rs50,000 for attempted murder. The convict would undergo an additional six-month imprisonment if he defaulted on payment.

He was further sentenced to 15-year imprisonment for committing the murder and terrorism and ordered to pay Rs80,000 fine.

Separately, the judge also sentenced him to seven-year imprisonment and ordered him to pay Rs50,000 fine for possessing illicit weapon used in the commissioning of the offence.

All sentences would run concurrently while the court also extended the benefit of Section 382(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which means the period of detention is considered while awarding imprisonment.

However, the judge also directed the prison superintendent to ensure requisite facilities for treatment of infection in the leg of the convict, where he received a bullet injury.

A separate case registered under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code was also registered against the police officials at the Sir Syed police station and the same is reportedly pending...