4 Guilty in Deadly Pakistani Bombing

A Pakistani court on Monday convicted four men in a deadly June car bombing outside the U.S. Consulate in this southern port city. Two men were given the death penalty and the other two received life terms.

The four -- all alleged members of the Islamic extremist group Harkat-ul-Moujahedeen al-Almi -- were convicted of murder, conspiracy, terrorism and other charges.

The June 14 bombing killed 12 Pakistanis and wounded 50 others. The jeep used in the attack failed to penetrate the consulate’s walls.

The victims were passersby and security officials.

The court sentenced Mohammed Imran and Mohammed Hanif to death by hanging.

Mohammed Sharib and Mufti Zubair were sentenced to life in prison, while a fifth man, Mohammed Ashraf, was acquitted.

The men were defiant after the verdict, with Imran and Hanif making the victory sign and passing out sweets to their lawyers.

“I am satisfied,” Imran said. “This death sentence is a blessing for me, although our deaths have been planned by the government to please America.”

Added Hanif: “All infidels of the world are united under the banner of America to eliminate Muslims.”

Hanif’s lawyer said he would challenge the verdict.