KARACHI: Accused in sectarian murder case identified
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 5: An eye-witness in a sectarian murder case against the chief of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and two others identified on Wednesday the three accused in an anti-terrorism court.
Judge Haq Nawaz Jhangvi of the ATC-5, who is holding the trial inside the juvenile jail, fixed Nov 11 for the next hearing after the deposition by Naib Hussain, the 16th prosecution witness.
LJ chief Akram Lahori and his two alleged associates, Mohammed Azam and Ataullah, have been charged with the killing of a juice centre owner on May 25, 2002, in Rizvia Society.
The eye-witness, who had earlier identified the three accused in an identification parade before a judicial magistrate, stated that he was having juice at the Agha Juice Centre in the evening when the three accused came there on a motorcycle.
He deposed that accused Lahori and Ata alighted from the bike and opened fire on Agha Abbas, the owner. He said a juice centre employee, Gul Zaman, was also injured in the firing.
Defence counsel M. R. Syed also cross-examined the prosecution witness.
The trial began after a three-month pause as it was earlier being tried by the ATC-4. The court, however, became vacant after the repatriation of presiding judge, Khan Pervaiz Chang, to the Sindh High Court.
ACQUITTED: The additional district and sessions judge, Nuzhat Ara Alvi, acquitted two workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in a case pertaining to attempt to kill policemen during a shootout.
Abdur Rahim and Nazeer alias Chotu were booked in 1996 under Sections 353 and 324 by the Kalakot police.
The judge exonerated the two from all charges as the prosecution could not bring on record incriminating evidence against the accused.
