October 26, 2008	Sunday	Shawwal 26, 1429

KARACHI, Oct 25: An additional district and sessions court (east) on Saturday recorded the statement of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) chairman Afaq Ahmed in two cases lodged against him under the Arms Ordinance and the Explosive Act at the Landhi police station.

Mr Ahmed told the court that he was innocent and had been implicated in the cases on political grounds as his opponents wanted to keep him behind bars, adding that he firmly believed in the judiciary and hoped that he would get justice one day.

Judge Abdul Rahmen Bhatti, who is conducting the trial inside the Central Prison, adjourned the hearing till Nov 4, when the court would record final arguments from both sides.

The prosecution said that two men booked under Section 13-D (a person goes armed in contravention of the provision of section 8) of the Arms Ordinance, when interrogated, stated that Afaq Ahmed had called them in Defence Housing Authority and given them arms and explosives, directing them to store the same at a place in the Landhi area.

Police had registered two cases (FIRs 104/2005 and 105/2005) against Afaq Ahmed under Section 13-E (a person has in his possession or under his control any arms, ammunition or military stores in contravention of the provision of Section 9) of the Arms Ordinance 1965 and Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Explosive Act.

The prosecution had produced five witnesses, including three policemen and two private witnesses.