KARACHI, Dec 18 Additional district and sessions judge (east) Abdul Rahman Bhatti on Thursday awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs100,000 to Atif-ur-Rahman, who was found guilty of killing two persons, Shakeel and his uncle, Rustam Khan, on April 5, 2004.

Pronouncing the verdict after recording final arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel in the double murder case, the judge said that the convict would have to undergo another three-month imprisonment in case of default on fine.

The case (FIR No.127/08) was registered against Atif under Section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code at the Sharea Faisal police station on the compliant of Shakeel's father. Atif was arrested on April 21, 2004.

During the hearings of the case, the prosecution submitted to the court that Atif had opened fire on Shakeel and Rustam Khan on April 5, 2004 near Rabia City, Gulistan-i-Jauhar. Both the victims were rushed to a hospital but they succumbed to their wounds. The prosecution claimed that the accused killed Shakeel after suspecting that the victim had had illicit relations with his wife.

The judge, in his verdict, observed that the prosecution side had produced ample evidence and witnesses and successfully proved its case.

The accused was present in the courtroom when the verdict was announced. The court remanded him back to the prison to serve the sentence.

Forex dealer remanded

A judicial magistrate (south) on Thursday remanded the director of a foreign exchange firm in Federal Investigation Agency custody till Dec 22 for his alleged involvement in a foreign currency scam.

The FIA arrested Mehboob Rehmatullah Moti, the director and partner of Al-Sahara Exchange Company, on Dec 17 in Karachi on charges of illegally transferring foreign currency worth billions of rupees from the country.

The suspect was produced in the court of civil judge and judicial magistrate-X (south) Asif Ahmed.

The investigators sought the physical remand of the suspect for 14 days. However, the court remanded the suspect in FIA custody till Dec 22 and directed the FIA officials to produce him in court on the next hearing.

A case (83/08) was registered against the suspect under Sections 5, 8, 22 and 23 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 read with Sections 7, 8 & 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance, 2007 and Sections 409, 420, 467, 471, 477-A/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the FIA crime circle branch, Karachi.

According to the FIR, a case was registered against the suspect on Dec 17 after initiating an inquiry on a complaint (No.108/08) lodged by the State Bank of Pakistan regarding illegal transfer of money abroad. It said that besides the authorised exchange business, the firm indulged in huge illegal transfer of money with the connivance of different banks, exchange companies, money changers, businessmen and private parties.

The inquiry revealed that for conducting unlawful business of foreign exchange, the company had created an online transfer system named “Wallsof”, through which, besides its authorised business, it conducted illegal transfer of money side by side with the legal business.

It further claimed that for conducting illegal business of “Hawala”, the suspect, fraudulently and with criminal intention, had opened a number of bogus accounts in different banks in alleged collaboration with the banks officers concerned while four of such accounts had so far been identified.

The bank accounts are account number 0162-01-000192 account title Mohammad Shahid at Bank Al-Falah Gizri branch, account number 23721-01 title Abdul Qadir Sajdi Qadri of Titan Fabric in Soneri Bank main branch I.I. Chundrigar Road, account number 16201000300 title Mohammad Afzal owner of Afzal Trading in Bank Al-Falah Gizri branch and account number 1003095 account title Mohammad Abid at Bank Al-Falah Paper Market branch.

The FIR further said that a number of foreign currency accounts were also used inside and outside the country for such transactions while the firm, in violation of the rules and regulations of the State Bank, indulged in illegal outward remittance of huge foreign exchange from Pakistan during the past few years.

The suspect had allegedly received billions of rupees from private parties for the purpose of Hawala, which were subsequently transferred to other parties that caused huge financial losses to the national exchequer, it added.

Hearing adjourned

Meanwhile, a district and sessions judge (south), Faheem Siddiqui, on Thursday adjourned the hearing of bail applications of Munaf Kalia and Javed Khanani in a money laundering case due to the absence of the FIA's counsel till Dec 23.

The FIA authorities had arrested Abdul Munaf Kalia, his brother Hanif Kalia, and Javed Khanani, on charges of illegally transferring billions of dollars abroad. Later, they were remanded in judicial custody.

In the meantime, the court directed the jail authorities to shift Hanif Kalia to Jinnah hospital and provide him necessary medical treatment, and submit a compliance report.

Earlier, the suspect through his counsel had moved an application for medical treatment.

The suspects were booked in a case (76/08) under Sections 5/8, 22/23 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 read with Sections 7, 8 and 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance, 2007 and Sections 420, 467, 471, 477-A of the PPC at the FIA crimes circle branch, Karachi.

The FIA Lahore also lodged a separate case against them under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 and the Pakistan Penal Code.

Mohammad Iqbal Kasbati, son of Jan Mohammad, Altaf S. Khanani, son of Sattar Khanani, Atif Aziz Polani, son of Aziz Polani, and Jawed Qasim have been shown absconders in the charge-sheet.

The investigation officer informed the court on Thursday that the whereabouts of the absconders were unknown. However, the court granted more time for their arrest.

Meanwhile, Hanif Kalia, through his counsel Shaukat Hayat, filed a bail application in the court of district and sessions judge (south) which would be reviewed on next hearing.