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KARACHI, May 11: An anti-terrorism court recorded on Tuesday the statement of the accused in the Masjid Ali Raza bomb blast case. Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed May 17 for hearing the final arguments from special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum and defence counsel Mushtaq Ahmed.
Accused Gul Hasan, who alleged belonged to the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, denied the charges against him and said he was not affiliated with any religious or sectarian outfit.
He said he did know the suicide bomber, Mohammed Ali Khatri, who had blew himself inside the mosque. The accused said he had never met the suicide bomber, nor was he known to him.
Disputing the time and place of his arrest, Gul Hasan stated that he was arrested on June 11.
As many as 25 faithful had been killed and 52 others injured on May 31 last year when a suicide bomber blew himself inside the Masjid Ali Raza, located at the Old Numaish.
Special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum examined in all 40 prosecution witness in the Masjid Ali Raza bomb blast case.
Accused Gul Hasan, arrested on June 13, is stated to have been the mastermind of the two bomb blasts at Haideri Mosque and Imambargah Ali Raza. He is alleged to have planned the attacks with absconding accused that included Asif Chuto and Mufti Obaid.
BUS KILLING CASE: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi on Wednesday adjourned hearing of trial against an activist of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi in Suparco bus killing case after deposition by two prosecution witnesses, adds PPI.
Shahnawaz alias Shani, along with other absconding co-accused, is charged with killing six employees of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Organization and injuring seven others on Oct 3, 2003.
The witnesses, police inspector Waqar Jadoon, who made memo of inspection of the incident, and sub-inspector Abbas recorded their statements. They were cross-examined by defence counsel M.R Syed.
ATC Judge Feroz M. Bhatti after examination of witnesses fixed May 17 for next hearing.
