January 23, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 13, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 22: The civil judge and judicial magistrate-X, South, Asif Ahmed, on Tuesday, declared the president of the Pakistan People’s Party, Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, former leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, and others absconders for not appearing in court despite repeated reminders in a case against them.

Earlier, the court had issued many bailable warrants for the arrest of the PPP leaders; however, they failed to appear before court.

According to the prosecution, the case (FIR No358/04) was registered at the Preedy police station under Sections 147,148,149, 353,427/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, for damaging many vehicles during a protest demonstration on June 18, 2004.

PPP leaders Rashid Rabbani, Sassui Palejo, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Muzaffar Ali Shujra, Najmi Alam, Raheel Iqbal, Dr Mehreen Bhutto, Sharfunnisa Laghari and Marvi Mazhar had taken out a procession to protest against the killing of PPP leader Munawwar Suharwardi and allegedly damaged a number of vehicles.