July 12, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 8, 1429

KARACHI, July 11: The civil judge and judicial magistrate, Central, Sohail Ahmed on Friday issued the 15th show-cause notice to an investigation officer via the DIG and SSP (investigation), directing him to appear in court and to submit a charge-sheet till July 23 in a case registered against three policemen who had allegedly opened fire on two motorcyclists.

It would be pertinent to mention here that during the past three months the court had issued as many as 14 notices to the IO in the case directly as well as through his superiors asking him to submit the charge-sheet. However, the investigation officer has failed to comply with the court’s orders. Interestingly, the police high-ups have also not been successful in ensuring the presence of the IO in court.

Three police constables, Mohammad Imran, Arif Hussain and Salman Farsi, had allegedly opened fire on Zubair Khan and Mohammad Saqib on March 21 near Shakhi Hasan, North Nazimabad. Both youngsters were taken to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, but Zubair succumbed to his injuries while Saqib sustained serious injuries. A case (FIR No 164/08) was registered under Sections 302 and 324/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code at Taimuria police station against the policemen.

Eyewitness deposes in murder case

An anti-terrorism court recorded the statement of a witness in a case pertaining to the kidnap and murder of a 21-year-old, Kamal.

The eyewitness, Noorul Islam, appeared before the judge, Abdul Ghafoor Memon, of the ATC-II, who, after recording the statement, adjourned the hearing till July 12.

The witness testified that he had seen the accused, Abul Kalam, and his son, Abdul Razzaq, with the deceased, Kamal, before the incident.

According to the prosecution, the police found the body of a young man on February 14 near the Premier College from the limits of the North Nazimabad police station. The police registered an FIR on behalf of the state. On Feb 15, the deceased was identified as Kamal, son of, Abdul Haq.

After initial investigations, however, the police on Feb 16 arrested the accused. In the charge-sheet, investigation officer of the case Hatim Khan Marwat stated that Kamal wanted to marry Abul Kalam’s daughter but the proposal was rejected. He stated that both the families were at odds over the matrimonial issue. He further stated that on Feb 13, the accused, along with his son, Abdul Razzaq, and another relative kidnapped and killed Kamal. Later, he added, they dumped the body near the Premier College.

Hearing put off

The additional district and sessions judge, East, Rana Zaki Shamsi, adjourned till August 4 the hearing of a 12-year-old boy’s murder case due to the absence of witnesses.

The judge directed the prosecution witnesses to appear in the court on the next date of hearing.

Earlier, the court had indicted the accused, Hafiz Manzoor Ahmed, a Moazzin, on the charges of killing a 12-year-old boy in a mosque in Shah Faisal Colony. However, he pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the case.

According to the prosecution, the body of the boy, Mohammad Anas, a student, was found hanging in Masjid-i-Aqsa, in Shah Faisal Colony on Oct 30, 2007. Police suspected that it was not a case of suicide and the boy was murdered.

The Shah Fasial Colony police had registered a case (FIR No 294/2007) under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code against Hafiz Manzoor Ahmed. The accused was arrested on Nov 1 and the court remanded him in judicial custody.

According to the charge-sheet, the accused had tried to sexually abuse the boy, but on the boy’s resistance, the accused killed him.

Meanwhile, the civil judge and judicial magistrate, South, Asif Ahmed remanded two suspects in police custody till July 15 for withdrawing over Rs400,000 using fake ATM cards. The FIA arrested both the suspects, Faizan and Waqar, on July 10.