Sajjad Haider, a native of Lahore, was awarded the jail term by Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Jain who held him guilty of cheating, impersonation, forgery, using forged documents as genuine and under the provisions of Foreigners Act.
"One can understand that he had concealed his nationality as he was not having any document but there is no explanation what had compelled him to procure forged driving licence and PAN card on the basis of forged documents. Thus, it cannot be said that he had no dishonest intention. Moreover, one should not forget that these forged identity documents can also be used against the interest of nation," the court said.
"It has already been established that at the time of obtaining the PAN card, the convict had not only concealed his real name and nationality but also furnished a fictitious school leaving certificate showing that he had studied in India. On the basis of forged documents, he had obtained a PAN card from the income tax department and also a driving licence," it said.
The court, however, acquitted co-accused Jainuddin Ansari, a Bihar native, who was accused of helping Sajjad procure the fake documents, due to lack of evidence.
Haider, who was also charged under the provisions of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly possessing confidential documents, was found not guilty of the same by the court after the prosecution failed to prove the allegations. More
