KARACHI, Sept 27: An accountability court on Tuesday reserved judgment in a corruption reference against former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and others after hearing final arguments from the special public prosecutor.
Judge Parkash Lal Ambwani of the AC-4 fixed Oct 13 for pronouncing judgment after prosecutor Nasir Iqbal Jaffery forwarded his arguments.
The reference against Benazir Bhutto pertains to 1,393 illegal appointments and promotions in various cadres and postings abroad in violation of existing rules, regulation and procedure during her last tenure as prime minister.
Others charged with corruption and corrupt practices along with the former prime minister included Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Umer Farooq, former PIA chief Naheed Khan, Ghulam Qadir Shah Jamote, and Najamul Hasan. Gulzar Hussain Qazi, a former general manager of the airline, has already been acquitted in the case.
ACCUSED IDENTIFIED: Four persons, accused in a kidnapping and murder case of a young man, were identified on Tuesday by the victim’s brother before an anti-terrorism court.
Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC fixed Thursday for the next hearing after the deposition of Abdul Aziz, who identified accused Fayyaz alias Papu, Muhammad Rehan Khan, Abdul Jabbar and Imran with their specific roles.
The four accused have been charged with the kidnapping and murder of Mohammed Ali, 30, in Oct last year within the limits of North Nazimabad police.
The victim was kidnapped for ransom on Oct 10. His body was found at a desolate place near Sohrab Goth on Oct 12 after the family failed to arrange the ransom.
The victim’s brother, who appeared as the second prosecution witness, deposed that the kidnappers had demanded Rs2.5 million for the release of Mohammed Ali.
He said the kidnappers had asked the family to bring the ransom at a petrol pump near Hanif hospital, Nazimabad.
He said he, his young brother and sister reached the designated point where accused Fayyaz and Rehan were in a Suzuki pick-up and the other accused, Jabbar and Imran, were on a bike.
He said they offered the kidnappers Rs100,000 and told them that they were not in a position to arrange such a huge ransom.
The prosecution witness submitted that at the time of their negotiation with the accused persons, a police patrol incidentally appeared at the site after which the accused fled the scene.
He said the kidnappers again phoned them and threatened them that they would receive the body of their brother in case they involved the police.
The victim’s brother stated that the kidnappers told them to bring the money near the Karimabad Bridge the next day.
They said the family members again reached the designated point where they met the kidnappers. However, he said, the kidnapper this time too fled the scene.
