KARACHI: A sessions court on Wednesday sentenced Javed Jokhio, a street criminal, to a total of 23 years in prison for multiple offenses, including robbery, illegal arms possession, and engaging in a shootout with police.
Additional District and Sessions Judge (East) Shahid Ali Memon convicted Jokhio on four counts, sentencing him to seven years each for robbery under Section 397 and attempted murder under Section 324, and two years for assaulting a public servant under Section 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). An additional seven-year sentence was imposed for illegal arms possession under the Sindh Arms Act 2013, along with a fine of Rs20,000. In case of non-payment, additional imprisonment would be served. The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently, with the maximum term being seven years.
Judge Memon emphasized that given the security situation in Karachi, where many have been victimized by such criminals, there is no room for leniency. “Such offenders must be strictly punished in accordance with the law to deter others from committing similar crimes,” the judge remarked.
The verdict came after Jokhio, who had been out on bail, was taken into custody. According to the state prosecutor, Syed Khursheed Abbas Bukhari, the incident occurred in September 2021, when the complainant was robbed at gunpoint by Jokhio and an accomplice, Umair Ali, in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. A police patrol intervened, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which Umair Ali escaped, but Jokhio was apprehended with a stolen mobile phone and a 30-bore pistol.
During the trial, three prosecution witnesses were presented, providing sufficient evidence against Jokhio. The defense argued the case was fabricated and the evidence planted, but the court dismissed these claims due to lack of supporting evidence.
Two separate FIRs were filed at the Aziz Bhatti police station under multiple sections of the PPC, including robbery, assault on a public servant, attempted murder, and the Sindh Arms Act 2013.
