KARACHI, Nov 26: District and Sessions Judge Zafar Ahmed Sherwani on Saturday rejected application filed by Asif Ali Zardari for quashing an FIR against him in murder case of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and seven others.

Barrister Azizullah K. Shaikh, counsel for the Asif Zardari, pleaded before the court that prosecution submitted a list of 20 witnesses on the point of conspiracy, the prosecution examined 14 witnesses and none of them made any substantial statement to prove the point of conspiracy between Asif Zardari, Wajad Ali Durrani and Shoaib Suddle. He pleaded court to exonerate his client from killing charges.

Special public prosecutor M. Alyas Khan opposing the plea for quashing the FIR stated that the application could not be granted as the entire case would be badly affected.

It was contended that at this stage of trial it would be premature to decide the application and prayed the court to dismiss the same giving opportunity to prosecution to prove the guilt of accused as per ruling of Supreme Court.

Rejecting the application of the accused, the court held that the quashment of FIR against the main accused Asif Zardari would affect the case against other accused including the then DIG Dr Shoaib Suddle, former SSP South now ADIG Wajad Ali Durrani and other police officials.

Mir Murtaza Bhutto and seven workers of his party were gunned down in an alleged encounter with police on Sept 20, 1996, in the limits of Clifton police station.—APP/PPI