PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court here convicted five persons including a juvenile on multiple counts under anti-terrorism law and sentenced them individually to five years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs11 million each.

ATC Judge Wali Mohammad Khan ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against the suspects named Rifaqullah, Kamran Faraz, Usman Ali, Mubashir Ghani and a juvenile.

The ATC acted as a juvenile court in the trial of the juvenile suspect.

Five of the absconding persons named Mehmood Shah, Qari Ehtesham, Bilal, Abdul Kabeer Khan and Murad were declared proclaimed offenders and their perpetual arrest warrants were issued.

The convicts were sentenced under different provisions of Anti-Terrorism Act and KP Arms Act to different prison terms including a maximum of five years rigorous imprisonment to each one of them.

However, the court ordered that their sentences would run concurrently.

They were charged in an FIR registered at CTD police station in Mohmand district on Nov 11, 2024, under different provisions of Anti-Terrorism Act including 11-F (member of a proscribed organisation), 11 N (punishment for funding and fund raising for terrorism), 21-C (imparting or receiving training for terrorism), 21-I (aiding or abetting offence of terrorism), etc, and Section 15 of KP Arms Act.

Senior public prosecutor Manzoor Alam Khan appeared for the state and contended that the suspects were caught red-handed during an Intelligence-based operation (IBO) and different weapons were recovered from their possession.

He stated that during course of investigation it was revealed that they belonged to a proscribed organisation.

According to prosecution, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) along with other police personnel including Elite Force and bomb disposal squad (BDS) was patrolling in the area of Yakka Ghund in connection with IBO against members of a banned organisation.

The team received information about presence of a terrorist group in a deserted house situated in a refugee camp for the purpose of planning to commit terrorist activities. The team raided the house and found five armed men present in one of the rooms, who surrendered after challenged by the raiding team.

The prosecution claimed that the raiding team recovered different weapons from their possession including small machineguns, pistols and various rounds of bullets.

It was claimed that the team also recovered certain ammunition buried in the earth including five anti-personnel mines, three hand grenades and a pistol.

The prosecution also claimed that the five absconding persons were named as their accomplices by the arrested suspects during investigation.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026