19 September 2004	Sunday	03 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Sept 18: Indictment of 10 Jundullah activists in the corps commander's convoy attack case was further deferred on Saturday by an anti-terrorism court as one of the defence counsel withdrew his powers to defend the accused.

This was the second time when Judge Feroze Mehmood Bhatti of the ATC-2, who is conducting trial inside the Central Prison, had to put off formal arraignment of defendants for absence of defence attorneys.

Since the offences involved capital punishment, the court has to proceed with the case in the presence of a defence attorney. Earlier, on Sept 16 the judge had appointed two defence attorneys on state expenses.

At the outset of the hearing, an application of Akram Shahbaz, counsel for Shoaib Siddiqui, was placed before the court. The defence counsel submitted that he was withdrawing powers to defend his client as he had not been given required information and instructions.

The judge appointed Rahim Khan Bangash as defence counsel for accused Shoaib Siddiqui on state expense and put off formal indictment of the accused till Sept 23.

Ataur Rehman alias Ibrahim, Shahzad Ahmed Bajwah, Yaqoob Saeed, Uzair Ahmed, Shoaib Siddiqui, Danish Inam, Najeebullah, Khurrum Saifullah, Shahzad Mukhtar and Khalid Rao have been charged with attacking the motorcade of the corps commander on June 10 in Clifton, which resulted in the death of 10 people, including six army personnel.

The Jundullah men were booked under Sections 302, 324, 404 and 34 of PPC, Section 7 of the Anti-terrorist Act, 1997, and Section 3, 4 and 5 of the Explosive Act. Adnan Shah alias Tipu, Mohammed Qasim, Maaz, Shahab, Bilal, Tayyeb, Hammad and Fasih have been declared absconders.

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

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5, who had earlier sentenced two other accused to death in the same case, fixed Sept 21 for recording the statement of the accused after special public prosecutor submitted that the prosecution did not wish to examine any further evidence in the case.

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 suspects 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 hurled a cracker and snatched a sub-machine gun from a constable and opened fire as smoke and dust engulfed the scene after the explosion. PC Mehboob died instantly and two other policemen were injured by the accused.

PW head constable Mohammed Rafique, who was also injured in the incident, stated that accused Javed had snatched the rifle from him and accused Amir had a pistol. He stated the two accused opened fire on the police party and fled the scene.

The other two prosecution witnesses were: ASI Liaquat Ali Gujjar and investigation officer, Inspector Misar Shah. The PWs were also cross-examined by the defence counsel.