KARACHI: SHC restores state’s appeal against acquittal
KARACHI, Dec 3: An anti-terrorism appellate bench of the Sindh High Court restored on Tuesday a criminal acquittal appeal filed by the state challenging the acquittal of a high-profile accused, Dilawar alias Dildar of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, in a double-murder case by an anti-terrorism court of Karachi division.
Assistant Advocate-General Habib Ahmed is appearing for the state in the appeal heard by the bench comprising Justice Wahid Bux Brohi and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jafri.
According to the prosecution, the accused killed Imtiaz Ali and Mohammed Abbas in front of Askari Computer Institute in FB Area on 9-2-2001.
A case was registered on the complaint of Moosa Ali, brother of deceased Imtiaz, on 10-2-2001, more than 24 hours after the incident. Police, after investigations, arrested Dilawar Hussain alias Dildar alias Tufail alias Saif-ur-Rahman alias Shahjee, Shehzad Maqsood, Abdul Waseem and Mohammed Saeed alias Kalia. Police also got information of involvement of Mohammed Rashid alias Andha and Mohammed Asif Ramzi alias Imran in the incident, and they were cited as absconders in the interim challan.
The accused were put to trial, and during pendency police arrested Mohammed Rashid alias Andha who allegedly confessed his involvement in the crime. Mohammed Rashid resiled from his confessional statement at the trial and submitted that he was taken to the Anti-terrorist Wing office from ATC although he was in judicial custody and was kept illegally detained for a whole day. He also told the trial court judge that inspector Khurram Waris threatened him to kill his brothers Khurram and Muslim.
The accused were tried and were acquitted by the ATC giving them the benefit of doubt.
The state went into an appeal which was dismissed for non-prosecution after which present the application for restoration was filed which was granted on Tuesday.
ADJOURNED: An accountability appellate bench of the Sindh High Court put off the hearing of two appeals filed by a former deputy director FIA Immigration, Karachi Airport, Choudhry Mohammed Sharif, police constable Mohammed Hanif and alleged frontman Mushtaq Ahmed to Dec 18 after detailed arguments.
The appellants challenged their conviction and sentence by an accountability court which sentenced them to 14 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs10 million each.
They were charged with amassing wealth by misusing their official position. Mushtaq was sentenced on the charge of abetment.—APP
Bail granted: A former SHO being tried for murder was admitted to bail in the sum of Rs500,000 on Tuesday, adds our staff reporter.
Applicant Eric Jamal, former SHO of Baloch Colony, is accused of killing Fahim Khan in custody after unlawfully arresting and detaining him in 1996. He is being tried by a sessions court, which refused him bail. He challenged the dismissal of his plea by the trial court, and Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany of the Sindh High Court granted him bail.
BAIL REFUSED: A former bank executive allegedly involved in misappropriation of more than Rs27 million was on Tuesday refused bail by a Sindh High Court division bench.
Applicant Shamsul Haq Siddiqui was manager of National Bank’s New Chali branch when he is accused of having embezzled the amount. He is being tried by a special court for offences in banks on a complaint lodged by a NBP vice- president.
Contempt notice: The Sindh High Court directed two CIA officers to appear in person and show cause why they should not be prosecuted for contempt.
The notices were issued by a division bench, comprising Justice Shabbir Ahmed and Mohammed Sadiq Leghari, on a contempt petition moved by Advocates Noor Naz Agha, Syed Ghulam Shah, Asifa Rizvi and Ali Bin Adam Jafri. The lawyers were manhandled by CIA officials and police on the court premises on Oct 22 when they pounced upon a detainee (Robin Piradato), who had been ordered released by a division bench comprising Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Amir Hani Muslim. Robin was arrested in connection with the murderous attack on Idara-i- Amn-o-Insaf, of which he was the sole survivor and eyewitness.
The contempt plea was promptly filed but was referred by the division bench seized of the habeas corpus petition by Robin’s wife to the chief justice for assignment to another bench as it had seen the marks of manhandling on the lawyers.
