Friday, October 28 2005 19:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A Special court will tomorrow (Oct 29, 2005) pronounce the quantum of sentence on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba militant Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq and six others convicted in the December 2000, Red Fort attack case.

Ashfaq and his key Indian conspirators, Nazir Ahmed Qasid and his son Farooq Ahmad Qasid, have been found guilty of waging war against the state, which can attract a death sentence.

Additional Sessions Judge O P Saini, who convicted all the accused on October 24, also held Ashfaq guilty of murder, criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and illegal possession of arms and ammunition.

The Pakistani national was also convicted for illegally entering and staying in India under the Foreigners Act. Nazir and Farooq have been convicted for criminal conspiracy.

The lone woman accused in the attack on December 22, 2000, and Ashfaq's Indian wife Rahamana Yousuf Farooqui was found guilty for harbouring Ashfaq.

The court also convicted Babar Mohsin Baghwala, Saddaqat Ali and Matloob Alam for being part of the conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

The court had acquitted four others- Rajeev Kumar Malhotra, Devender Singh, Moolchand Sharma and Shahanshah Alam for want of evidence.

Lashkar-e-Toiba sneaked into the 17th century monument at around 2100 hours on December 22, 2000 and opened fire on guards of the Rajputana Rifles stationed there killing three jawans.