KARACHI: Verdict in boys’ murder case deferred till 5th
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 1: An anti-terrorism court deferred the announcement of its verdict on Thursday in a kidnap and murder case of two boys till Nov 5.
The court, headed by Judge Abdul Ghafoor Memon of the ATC-II, had earlier reserved the judgment for Nov 1 after the special public prosecutor, Niamat Ali Randhawa, and the defence counsel concluded their arguments. However, now the court will pronounce its judgment next week.
Seven-year-old Sajid, son of Ilyas Masih, and nine-year-old Ubaid, son of Riaz Masih, were kidnapped in Christian Para, Nai Abadi, in the Korangi police limits on May 21. The abductors killed the boys when their families failed to pay ransom for their release. Their bodies were found on May 30 in Korangi.
Police investigations revealed that the boys were allegedly kidnapped by Asif Masih, who was last seen with the two boys, along with his accomplices Rehman Dakait and Asal Din. The police managed to arrest Asif Masih in Korangi.
According to testimonies from witnesses, including a shopkeeper, Ashiq Masih, who said he had seen both the boys with Asif Masih, another resident of the locality, on May 21. On his return from the shop he saw both the boys with Asif Masih, the witness said, adding that another person appeared to be a Pathan was also going along with them toward Korangi.
He admitted that he knew the victims and their families since they were residing in his neighbourhood. He also confirmed the identity of the accused Asif Masih, saying that he was also a resident of the same locality.
Medico-legal Officer Dr Zeeshan, who conducted the post-mortem of the bodies in Jinnah hospital, had recorded his statement in the case on Oct 22. He gave the details about the age of the boys and the wounds on their bodies.
Earlier on Oct 9, the court had recorded the depositions of two prosecution witnesses Samuel Masih and Sub-Inspector Aslam Mughal.
Samuel Masih alias Samson had said that he and his friend were sitting on the pipes at a short distance from their neighbourhood when he saw the two boys (Sajid and Ubaid) going with Asif Masih on the evening of May 21.
“I caught hold of Ubaid and asked him to go back home. But he refused and asked Asif Masih to intervene. Asif asked me to let Ubaid go with him,” testified Mr Samson.
He said another man, who appeared to be a Pathan, was also waiting for Asif and they all went toward Korangi.
“Later, the news spread in the locality that the boys had been kidnapped. I told the story to Shahbaz, Sajid’s uncle, and as a result Asif Masih disappeared from the area,” he said.
Sub-Inspector Mohammad Aslam Mughal claimed that the bodies of the two victims were found during his duty hours at the Zaman Town police station. He said he informed the boys’ family and later the Anti-Violent Crime Cell about it.
