KARACHI, April 19: An exorcist charged with slaughtering a woman and her 38-year-old son was identified on Saturday by the surviving son of the dead woman in the district and sessions court, East.
Tanveer Zulfi is being prosecuted for the murder of Kaneez Fatima, aged 60, and her son Rizwan Abbas in their flat in Gulistan-i-Jauhar on June 20, 2000.
Judge Sain Allah Dino Matilo fixed May 7 for the next hearing after the deposition of Irfan Abbas, the youngest son of the dead woman.
Irfan, who was also the complainant in the case, stated that the accused faith-healer had a relationship with his family as he was a friend of his elder brother, Rizwan.
The prosecution witness deposed that his brother was under stress after he was cheated of his plot of land. He said Rizwan, who had strained relations with his wife also, shared his worries with his exorcist friend.
The complainant said the accused assured his brother and other family members of bringing everything back to normal. He said the faith-healer claimed that he could arrange five plots in lieu of the one lost plot by his “spiritual powers.”
The witness said a day before the incident the accused gave his brother a briefcase, warning him not to open it.
He said the accused also instructed that he would perform his wizardry only in the presence of his mother and his brother.
Irfan said the accused went into their flat and stood in front of the apartments’ building. He said he and his sister went to their flat when Tanveer Zulfi did not turn up. He said they found their mother and brother trussed up and slaughtered with valuables missing from the flat.
The accused, represented by Shahadat Awan, was arrested on the next day of the incident in Sharea Faisal.
District attorney Ms Zainab Humerani is being assisted by Khawaja Naveed, who is appearing on behalf of the victims’ family.
The judge reserved the cross-examination of the complainant by the defence counsel due to paucity of time.
MAJOR ZARGHAM CASE: The judicial magistrate, South, Rahmatullah Moro, adjourned the hearing of a direct complaint against the former chief of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee and 19 others for involving an army officer in a Hudood case.
The magistrate fixed April 21 for the next hearing after a counsel for the inspector-general of the Sindh police sought adjournment.
Major Mohammed Zargham Mirza had lodged a direct complaint before the judicial magistrate for the registration of a criminal case against 20 respondents, including Jamil Yousuf, under sections 182, 500 and 506 of PPC.
The IG was summoned by the magistrate on an application of the army officer, who stated that he was denied the right to lodge an FIR against those who attempted to implicate him in the Hudood case.
The IG, however, did not appear in the court and moved an application before the district and sessions judge, South, seeking exemption from appearing in the court.
Later, the application was taken up by an additional district and sessions judge on the orders of the district judge.
