KARACHI, May 21: A division bench of the Sindh High Court comprising Justice Muhammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery on Monday admitted the state appeal for regular hearing against the acquittal of banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi chief Akram Lahori and his two associates in a sectarian murder case.

Muhammad Ajmal alias Akram Lahori, Mohammed Azam and Ataullah were acquitted by ATC-V Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch giving them the benefit of doubt on January 17.

They were tried for killing Agha Abbas, owner of the Agha Juice Centre, and injuring his employee Gul Zaman on May 25, 2002 in Rizvia Society.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, state filed appeal against the acquittal in the SHC and prayed to it to set aside the trial court order and convict the respondents for the crime they had committed.

Defence counsel supporting the trial court judgment stated that the prosecution failed to establish its case against the appellants in the trial court and its evidences were full of contradictions. He opposed the state appeal against the acquittal and asked for it dismissal.

The SHC's division bench, after hearing arguments of both counsel, admitted the state appeal for regular hearing and adjourned the matter for a date in office.

Meanwhile, the same division bench adjourned the hearing of the banned LJ activist's appeal against the conviction in the Masjid-i-Hyderi bomb blast case for a date in office on the request of defence counsel Ilyas Khan.

Gul Hasan alias Ali Haider was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court on June 4, 2005 for masterminding the suicide bombing at Masjid-i-Hyderi in Sindh Madressahtul Islam. The attack claimed 23 lives and caused injuries to 98 persons on May 07, 2004.

According to the prosecution, Gul Hassan left the suicide bomber with a briefcase of explosives at the Hyderi Masjid. He was present in the nearby mosque. — PPI