KARACHI: ATC puts off hearing of consulate blast case
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 22: An anti-terrorism court adjourned on Wednesday the hearing of the US Consulate bomb blast case against Naveedul Hassan after recording the statement of a prosecution witness.
The court, which had earlier convicted the chief and the general secretary of the banned Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi, fixed Thursday for the next hearing after the statement of Inspector Dawwod Akbar.
Constable Mohammed Azam, Mohammed Ilyas, Mohammed Rizwan, Dr Aliya Waris, Shafaat Ahmed Rizvi, Ikramullah Awan, Miss Nida Nazeer, Ms Nazish Kareem Hussan, Mrs Farkhunda jabeen, Mohammed Ashraf Hussain, Mrs Rehana Perveen, Mrs Rizwan Bano and head constable Obaidullah were killed in the blast.
At least seven policemen – SI Asif Ali Mughul, Mohammed Aslam and ali Gohar Soomro, constables Munawwar Nawab, Shakeel Ahmed, Zahoorul Haque, Mohammed Bux and Subedar Astara Khan were among 43 injured in the blast that had also damaged 19 vehicles.
Special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa is appearing on behalf of the state.
PRISONERS’ VAN CASE: Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 adjourned till Monday the hearing of the prisoners’ van firing case against five workers of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi after the partial cross-examination of the investigation officer.
Defence counsel Amir Mansoob Qureshi and Ashraf Mughul have completed the cross-examination of DSP Faisal Noor. The third defence counsel, M. A. Wasti, would cross-examine the investigation officer on the next date of hearing.
Five workers of the banned sectarian outfit have been charged with killing a constable and an under-trial prisoner during an attack on a prisoners’ van.
Mohammed Faisal alias Faisal Pehalwan, Waseem Sabir, Mazhar Hussain, Mohammed Tassaduq and Muzammil Hussain were charged with attacking the prisoners’s van on Feb 28, 2002 near Bohra Pir in the Nabi Bux police limits.
According to the prosecution, the LJ men opened fire on the van which was carrying some undertrial sectarian workers to the Central Prison after producing them in the city courts. Police constable Mohammed Shakil and an under-trial prisoner, Saqib son of Meher Din, were killed in the attack. A dozen other UTPs were also injured in the incident.
Sepecial public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum is representing the state.
