KARACHI, Nov 3: The prosecution in a sectarian murder case against the chief of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi closed its side after examining its last witness in an anti-terrorism court.
Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5, who is conducting the trial inside the Juvenile Prison, fixed Nov 6 for the next hearing following the deposition of investigation officer Akram Gujjar.
LJ chief Akram Lahori, Ataullah, Muhammed Azam and Malik Tassaduq were charged with the killing of Seth Ramzan Ali, owner of Pak Iranian Tea Company, at his outlet in Saddar on Feb 11 last year. Ehsan Ali, an employee at the tea company, and Muhammed Firdous, a customer, were also wounded in the attack. The attackers also hurled an explosive device, which destroyed the victim’s shop.
The court would record the statements of the accused on the next date of hearing.
The special public prosecutor, Mazhar Qayyum, examined in all 16 prosecution witnesses.
KIDNAPPING CASE: An anti-terrorism court put off on Tuesday the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case after the prosecution closed its side with the statement of its last witness, the investigation officer.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 fixed Nov 4 for the statements of more prosecution witnesses.
The case pertained to the kidnapping of Mohammed Bilal Shahzad, son of a businessman, who was released after the payment of Rs450,000 as ransom on June 12.
Three accused, Shahzad alias Haider Ali, Abdul Jabbar and Ahmed Hussain alias Immi, have been charged with the kidnapping. Six other accused — Arshad alias Pappu, son of Haji Laloo, Rustum, Zeeshan alias Burger, Shahzad alias Shahji, Haji Ameen and Abu Sufiyan — have been declared absconders in the case.
The 18-year-old victim was kidnapped near the Boating Basin on June 5 as he parked his car in front of a eating house. His paternal uncle Imran Ijaz and elder brother Faraz Zafar negotiated with his captors, who received the ransom money at a desolate place near Aladin Park.
Special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa examined in all nine prosecution witnesses.
CORRUPTION CASE: The Accountability Court No 4, headed by Judge Parkash Lal Ambwani, fixed Dec 2 for the indictment of Javed Burki, a former federal secretary and former chief of the Pakistan Automobile Corporation, and co-accused Muzammil Niazi, former managing director of PACO.
The court officials said the special public prosecutor and the defence counsel did not turn up, though the two accused, both on bail, appeared before the court.
