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Karachi blast: death sentence for three

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

A passenger being rescued from a bus after an explosion in Karachi in this May 8, 2002 file photo.

ISLAMABAD JUNE 30. Three days before the high-profile visit of the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, to France, an anti-terrorism court in Karachi today sentenced three persons to death for their alleged involvement in a suicide bomb attack in May last year that killed 11 French naval engineers and technicians.

The verdict is good news for Gen. Musharraf as his talks with the French leaders would involve a desire for enhanced defence co-operation.

It would also help him "put at rest any apprehensions" in France about the security environment in Pakistan and the efficacy of the judicial system. Of course, the three have decided to appeal against the sentence and move higher court.

It might be a while before the case is decided one way or the other.

This is the second instance in recent weeks that Pakistani courts have sentenced the charged in cases connected with attacks on foreigners and foreign installations.

The year 2002 was marked by a series of attacks on Christians and western targets. Most of the attacks were considered to be the handiwork of militant outfits opposed to the decision of Gen. Musharraf to align with the U.S. led coalition in the so-called war against terrorism after 9/11.

In the present case, all the three are considered to be members of the banned outfit, Harkat-ul- Mujahideen Al-alami.

A car packed with explosives blew up outside the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi on May 8 last year, killing the Frenchmen, who were helping Pakistan build submarines.

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