15 October 2004	Friday	29 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 14: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi on Thursday indicted Gul Hasan alias Ali Haider, an activist of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi for his alleged involvement in Imambargah Haidery bomb blast case.

The accused denied the charges and claimed innocence when it was read by the court, headed by Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch. Prosecution charged him as one of the accused, along with other absconding co-accused Asif Choto, Abdul Salam, Qasim, Mufti Eid Mohammad, for preparing police constable Akbar Khan Niazi for a suicide bomb attack on the Imambargah Hyderi.

Gul, who is also stated to be the mastermind behind the blast, was arrested by the law-enforcement agencies on June 12 from Mithadar. The court, after framing the charges fixed Oct 18 for the next hearing and directed the special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum to produce witnesses for deposition. Mushtaq Ahmed is representing the accused.

Meanwhile, the same court deferred indictment of accused in another bomb blast case pertaining to Imambargah Ali Raza and fixed Oct 22 for the next hearing.

CASE DISPOSED OF: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi, headed by Judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, on Thursday adjourned the hearing of a case against Shahnawaz alias Shani of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, who is facing charges for his involvement in the Suparco bus firing case after deposition by the magistrate.

The LJ activist, with other absconding co-accused Asif Choto and Shaukat, attacked the Suparco bus with automatic weapons, carrying its employees for Friday prayers at the Hub River Road in Mauripur on Oct 3, 2003.

Judicial Magistrate Mumtaz Ali Solangi, who conducted the identification parade of the accused, recorded his statement. The court, which is holding trial in central jail Karachi, fixed Oct 22 for the next hearing. Special Public Prosecutor Iqtedar Ali Hashmi is representing the state. -PPI