PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court here on Thursday convicted a man of smuggling explosives device for a terrorist activity, and sentenced him to 14 years rigorous imprisonment.

The judge observed that the prosecution`s arguments and evidence on record proved the charge against the accused, Mohammad Farooq, a resident of Khyber Agency.

The prosecution claimed that on a tip-off, the police had recovered six kilogrammes of explosive material from the accused near Achini Chowk on Peshawar Ring Road.

It added that the seized material was being smuggled from tribal areas for use in terrorism.

The prosecution said an FIR was later registered against the accused by the counter-terrorism department on May 20, 2016, under Section 7 of the AntiTerrorism Act and Section 5 of the Explosive Substance Act.

The state prosecutor insisted that the accused was directly named in the FIR as he was caught redhanded for carrying explosive device.

He added that the use of explosive material would have caused a lot of damage to public life and property.

ACQUITTED: The Kohat district and sessions judge has acquitted three accused persons charged with carrying explosive device and mortar shells due to lack of evidence.

Judge Ahmad Sultan Tareen ruled that the prosecution didn`t prove its case against the accused and therefore, they should be set free.

The accused, including Amanullah, Noor Mohammad and Imdad Qasim, were allegedly arrested by the Kohat counter-terrorism department on Jan 2, 2015, near Kohat Cement Factory when they were travelling in a car.

The CTD claimed to have recovered two mortar shells, a seven kilogrammes explosive device, prima cord and detonator from the vehicle.

Earlier, the accused were convicted by an anti-terrorism court.

However, the Peshawar High Court had set aside the conviction and remanded the case to the district court for retrial. Bureau Report