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| 30 December 2004 | Thursday | 17 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
2 magistrates examined in doctor brothers' case
KARACHI, Dec 29: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a trial against Dr Akmal Waheed and his brother Dr Arshad Waheed after examination of two prosecution witnesses.
Dr Akmal Waheed, a cardiac specialist of NICVD and Dr Arshad Waheed, a kidney physician of the JMPC, are facing charges of sheltering Al Qaeda, Jundullah activists, providing them funds and medical treatment.
Judicial magistrate Zahid Methelo, who had been examined earlier, stated that he conducted the identification parade in respect of accused Shehzad Ahmed Bajwa. He, however, admitted during cross-examination that the identification parade was not held in the case in which the doctor brothers are involved, but it pertained to the ranger van firing case.
He further admitted that the identification parade was held in the court whereas the witnesses and the accused were sitting outside in the courtyard of judicial complex in jail prior to holding of the identification test.
The magistrate acknowledged that he did not know since how long those persons were sitting there or if the police had shown the accused before holding the identification parade.
Another witness from the prosecution side, judicial magistrate Rajab Ali Shar stated that he recorded the confession of Shehzad Ahmed Bajwa and Ataur Rehman, who are nominated in the case of attack on Corps Commander's convoy. He produced the two judicial confessions.
The production of confessions was objected by defence on the grounds that under Article 43 of Qanun-i-Shahadat, confessions are relevant only when the accused are tried jointly in the same offence.
It was contended in the case of attack on Corps Commander convoy that the doctor brothers have been exonerated and acquitted by the court for lack of evidence. ATC judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, who is conducting the trial later adjourned the hearing till Jan 1 for want of time. The cross-examination of witnesses will be completed on the next hearing. -APP
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