KARACHI: Accused identified in US diplomat murder case
By Tahir Siddiqui
KARACHI, Nov 30: An eye-witness identified on Thursday one of the two activists of Al Qaeda being tried in the US diplomat killing case in an anti-terrorism court.
Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5, who is conducting trial inside Central Prison, put off hearing till December 2 after recording statement of Ali Zaman who had seen one of the accused on the spot minutes before the suicide bomber rammed his explosive laden car into the diplomat’s vehicle.
Two Al Qaeda activists – Anwarul Haq and Usman Ghani -- are being tried for masterminding suicide car bombing to kill the US diplomat.
Four people were killed on March 2 when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden car into the diplomat’s vehicle yards away from the US consulate.
The blast that took place in a narrow lane between the Marriott Hotel and the Naval Hospital also left over 50 others wounded.
US Consulate official David Foy, his Pakistani driver Iftikhar and Lance Naik Zafar of Rangers were killed instantly.
The body of the suicide bomber, later identified as Mohammed Tahir, was also torn into pieces.
PW Ali Zaman said he was a waiter at the canteen outside the naval hospital. He said he reached his workplace at 7am as per routine.
The 24-year-old waiter stated that he was sitting and chatting with his friend, Sikander, at the canteen when a white Toyota, bearing registration number AGE-750, appeared there.
Identifying accused Anwarul Haq, the witness deposed that he was sitting at the front seat.
He said the two occupants of the car got down and embraced each other. Later, he said, accused Anwarul Haq went towards the Marriot hotel’s parking and the driver of the Toyota parked his car in the parking area.
The prosecution witness said after 10 to 15 minutes Anwar signalled the suicide bomber who quickly got into his Toyota. He said after two or three minutes he heard a blast.
The judge reserved cross-examination of the prosecution witness by defence counsel Ilyas Khan and Mushtaq Ahmed till the next date of hearing.
According to the prosecution, represented by special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa, the explosive-laden car was parked outside the naval establishment, and when the convoy, carrying the US official appeared, the bomber rammed his vehicle into the bullet-proof car. The vehicle flew up into the air before landing across a concrete barrier on the pavement of the Marriot.
The investigation officer, Inspector Tariq, got a clue about the identity of the suicide bomber in August.
According to the charge-sheet, Mohammed Tahir, son of Raja Afzal, had left his Landhi house on March 2 after Fajr prayers and later his family was informed of his death.
