KARACHI, Sept 11: An anti-terrorism court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a murder case after recording the statement of accused.

The case against accused Qurban Ali Magsi pertained to the killing of sub-inspector Zahid Hussain Abidi during a shootout with the police in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on June 17, 2000.

Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 fixed Sept 13 for hearing final arguments form special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa and the defence counsel after the statement of Qurban Magsi.

According to prosecution, accused Qurban Ali Magsi and co- accused Amanullah Magsi alias Shahbaz were spotted near National Apartments while they were going in a snatched Toyota Corolla.

The accused, who declined to depose on oath, stated that he was implicated in the case after he refused to pay bribe to the police official who had arrested him.

The accused allegedly opened fire when the police party tried to intercept them fatally wounding the sub-inspector.

Accused Amanullah Magsi also sustained a bullet wound in his chest and he was arrested on the spot with an unlicensed pistol. Accused Qurban, however, managed to flee the scene.

The same court had earlier on Sept 28, 2000, sentenced co-accused, Amanullah Magsi, to death for the murder of the police official.

COP'S MURDER CASE: An anti-terrorism court put off the hearing of a murder case of constable after recording the depositions of two prosecution witnesses.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Sept 13 for the next hearing after special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum examined sub-inspector Abdur Rauf and SI Malik Iqbal.

The two prosecution witnesses were also cross-examined by defence counsel Fahim Zia.

Syed Amir Hussain alias Fauji, who was arrested on Nov 8, 2003, is being tried for killing Mehboob Ali and injuring two other cops on Jan 13, 2003, in the compound of the Saudabad police station.

According to prosecution, five accused were spotted by a Saudabad police party in a stolen car (AAB-588). The police party intercepted them and brought the suspects and their car to the police station.

It was alleged that the accused in the meantime hurled a fire-cracker, snatched a sub-machine gun from a constable and opened fire as the smoke and dust engulfed the scene after the explosion. PC Mehboob died instantly while two other policemen were injured by the accused.

The Orangi Town police had arrested two accused - Kashif and Zahir - on April 3, 2003. They were tried by the ATC-5 and were sentenced to death.