August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

KARACHI, Aug 6: Additional district and sessions judge (Malir) Mohammad Siddiq Abbasi on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a murder case registered against Mohajir Qaumi Movement chief Afaq Ahmed and others till Aug 20 due to the absence of the defence counsel.

The judge, conducting the trial inside the Central Prison Karachi, issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of four policemen who are not responding to the court’s earlier orders asking them to record their statements in the case.

The judge directed the higher police authorities to arrest the policemen and ensure their production in the court on the next date of hearing.

According to the prosecution, Zubair Ali, son of Mashooq Ali, and his mother, Rafiqun Nisa, were on their way home in Nazimabad in a cab on July 30, 2002 when they heard sound of gunshots in the locality. They turned towards his sister’s house and when they reached near Lilly Town in Ammar Yasir Society, the cab came under attack by four unknown men. Ms Rafiqun Nisa and taxi driver Kafiluddin sustained injuries in the attack.The woman was taken to the Al-Mustafa Trust for treatment and Kafiluddin was rushed to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The police had registered a case (FIR No.144/02) under Sections 302, 324, 109/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Malir City police station against Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) chief Afaq Ahmed, Amir Khan and others. The FIR stated that the firing was resorted to on their behest.

Turabi assassination case

The Anti-Terrorism Court-III on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of a case pertaining to the suicide attack in which eminent religious scholar Allama Hassan Turabi, along with his nephew, was killed.

The trial, being held inside the Central Prison Karachi for security reasons, could not proceed since the authorities concerned did not provide a security squad to the newly-appointed ATC-III judge, Aanand Ram Hotwani.