KARACHl: A sessions court sentenced a street criminal to a total of 27 years in prison for snatching mobile phones from citizens on University Road before being apprehended in a police encounter.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon found Muhammad Sohail guilty and pronounced multiple sentences: 10 years for the offence under Section 324 (attempted murder), seven years under Section 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), two years under Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), and one year under Section 186 (obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

`The current situation of Karachi city is not so good for every man because the street crimes have promptly been increasing day by day and none from the society feel secure at the hands of merciless muggers and the unlicensed weapon is the mother of all crimes, therefore, in the betterment of the society, such offenders do not deserve any leniency and they are liable to be strictly punished in accordance with law, so that no one could commit such kind of crimes,` the judge observed.

The court also awarded an additional seven years` imprisonment for possessing an illicit 30-bore pistol recovered after the encounter and imposed a fine of Rs20,000.

According to the prosecutor, in October last year, the complainant along with his friends was travelling on University Road when their motorcycle stopped after running out of fuel. In the meantime, two men on another motorcycle intercepted them at gunpoint and snatched their mobile phones and cash.

As the robbers tried to flee, a police mobile arrived at the scene. On seeing the police, the robbers opened fire on the law enforcement personnel. During the exchange, the robbers sustained injuries and later the co-accused, Muhammad Mir, succumbed to his injuries.

The court noted that the accused denied the allegations and claimed innocence; however, he failed to produce any substantial evidence in his defence.