July 15, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 11, 1429

KARACHI, July 14: The additional district and sessions judge-VI, East, Abdul Razzaq, on Monday indicted the chief of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi Akram Lahori in two cases.

He pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the case. The court fixed August 4 as the next date of hearing and summoned the prosecution witnesses directing them to testify on the next hearing.

Akram Lahori was charged in murder and attempt to murder cases. The first case was registered under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Brigade police station and the second was under Section 324 of the PPC at Korangi Industrial Area police station.

Boiler blast case

The additional district and sessions judge-II, Central, Nelofer Shahnawaz, on Monday recorded the statements of three witnesses in a case pertaining to a boiler explosion and put off the hearing till August 16.

The blast occurred at a towel-dyeing and bleaching factory in New Karachi on July 24, 2007 that had left nine people dead and 25 others injured.

The court had indicted Akhtar Hussain Baloch, the factory owner, and Mohammad Ahsanullah, the boiler operator, on a manslaughter charge. They pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the case.

A case (FIR 359/07) was registered against them under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Taimuria police station after the boiler had exploded.

Both the accused were arrested after the incident. Later, Akhtar Baloch got bail from the Sindh High Court.

Ashura case

The same court on Monday adjourned till July 22 the hearing of a case registered against five suspected terrorists arrested on the eve of Ashura due to the absence of witnesses.

On June 27, the court had indicted five suspected terrorists on the charges of possessing weapons and explosive substance and planning to carry out attacks on processions during Ashura. They had pleaded not guilty and opted to contest the case.

The court had summoned all the prosecution witnesses. However, they did not turn-up on Monday. The judge issued notices to the witnesses directing them to appear before the court on the next hearing.