An Anti-terrorism Court in Quetta handed down the sentence on Wednesday to Mullah Dadullah, as well as to two Pakistani supporters who were present in the court, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Three other Afghans who, like Dadullah, are at large, received the same sentence, while a third Pakistani was acquitted, the official said.
Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani, of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) escaped unhurt when a landmine was detonated by remote control near his car in Balochistan on November 18, 2004. Sherani's lawyer Kamran Murtaza said the charge against Dadullah was based on statements by the two Pakistanis convicted that they had set off the landmine on his orders. Sherani himself did not accuse Dadullah or other Taleban members. Asked why he was attacked, he said on Wednesday: "Only those who did it can tell why they did it."