KARACHI, June 22: An anti terrorism court in reserved on Thursday judgment in a case pertaining to a conspiracy to kill President Parvez Musharraf.
Judge Ghulam Ali A. Samito fixed June 30 for pronouncement of the judgment after he heard final arguments from Special Public Prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa.A worker of the banned Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi, Naveedul Hassan, who was earlier declared absconder , has been prosecuted for hatching a conspiracy to blow up the president’s motorcade in April 2003 within the limits of the Airport police under Section 120-B and Section 7 of the Anti-terrorist Act.
The prosecution prayed to the court to award capital punishment to the accused as they have proved their case successfully. He contended that the accused had also confessed to his affiliation with the banned organisation before a judicial magistrate.
Defence counsel Samiullah, who forwarded his arguments on Wednesday, however prayed the court to acquit the defendant as his client’s name was Naveedul Hassan, while the accused mentioned in the FIR was Naveed. He argued that his client was the namesake of the accused. He also contended that the FIR was manipulated as it contained overwriting. He submitted that it was the case of a mistaken identity.
According to the prosecution, the Aalmi leaders, during interrogation, revealed that they wanted to kill President Musharraf for his anti-Taliban and pro-US policies.
It was alleged that a Suzuki pick-up, laden with the explosives, was parked near a shop at the Falak Naz Arcade on the Sharea Faisal and absconding accused Kamran had the remote control to blow up the explosives at the time of arrival of the President’s motorcade.
Accused Kamran, who had positioned himself at a petrol pump near Star Gate on Sharea Faisal, allegedly pushed the remote control button several times but the vehicle did not blow up.
Accused Naveed allegedly assembled the explosive devise and its remote control.
Later, the accused used same explosive-laden vehicle in the US consulate bombing.
It was alleged that accused Habibullah Khattak, who was given Rs400,000 by the Aalmi leaders, brought explosives and other weapons in a truck from the upcountry.
