KARACHI, Dec 6: Three eye-witnesses identified on Tuesday three workers of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi in a prison van firing case before an anti-terrorism court. Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 put off hearing of the case till Thursday after deposition by constables Sajid Ali, Shakil Ahmed and Nazeer, who were also cross-examined by defence counsel Amir Mansoob Qureshi, M A Warsi and Ashraf Mughul.
Five LJ workers Mohammed Faisal alias Faisal Pehalwan, Waseem Sabir, Mazhar Hussain, Mohammed Tassaduq and Muzammil Hussain are charged with killing a constable and an under-trial prisoner in the attack on the van on Feb 28, 2002, near Bohrapir.
According to prosecution, the LJ men opened fire on the van which was carrying some UTPs to the Central Prison after producing them at the City Courts. Police constable Mohammed Shakil and a UTP, Saqib son of Meher Din, were killed in the attack. A dozen other UTPs were also injured in the attack.
Constables Sajid and Shakil submitted that they were patrolling the area on a motorcycle when they heard gunshots. They said they immediately reached the spot where accused Faisal, Sabir and Mazhar were seen firing on the van.
The constables said that the attackers fled the scene when they opened fire on them. They said one of the attackers threw his Kalashnikov before fleeing away.
Constable Nazeer submitted that he was posted in the court police and was in the rear portion of the prisoners’ van which was going to the Central Prison from City Courts. He also identified the three accused as attackers.
Special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum is representing the state.
COP’S MURDER CASE: Judge Arshad Noor Khan of the ATC-3 put off hearing of a murder case against a man after the deposition by four prosecution witnesses.
The judge fixed Wednesday for the next hearing after deposition by constable Anser Mehmood, sub-inspector Mohammad Nawaz Jhakro, ASI Mohammad Fahim and Mohammad Anwer, who were also cross-examined by defence counsel Nasir Mughul.
Ghulam Qadir Patni is charged with the killing of constable Jahangir on March 23 in Baghdadi.
Constable Anser identified Ghulam Qadir Patni as one of the attackers who had killed Jahangir and injured him.
CASE AGAINST AFAQ: The additional district and sessions judge, Malir, Ameena Nazeer Ansari, issued notices to the inspector general of prisons, Sindh, and home secretary for not producing Younus Khan, a leader of Mohajir Qaumi Movement, in the court during the hearing of a murder case.
The case pertained to the killing of driver Kafil Uddin and wounding of his passenger, Rafiqun Nisa, in a firing incident in July last year within the limits of the Malir City police.
Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed and general secretary Amir Khan are also co-accused in the case.
According to the charge-sheet, a Haqiqi worker, Babar alias Babri, was arrested for killing the cab driver. During interrogation, he disclosed to have committed the offence on the insistence of the party’s top leadership.
