KARACHI, Oct 19: An anti-terrorism court acquitted on Friday an accused in a case pertaining to the murder of a policeman.

Qadir alias Daket, said to be associated with one of the several criminal gangs operating in Lyari, along with his absconding accomplices has been charged with attacking an armoured personnel carrier with rocket launchers and other heavy weapons within the remit of the Baghdadi police station in December 2009 that left the APC driver dead and a number of other policemen injured.

The judge, Ghulam Mustafa Memon, of the ATC-III, who conducted the trial, pronounced the judgment after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

The prosecution failed to produce solid evidence against the accused in order to establish its case beyond a shadow of a doubt, a court official said.

The official said that glaring contradictions were found in evidence advanced by the prosecution, adding that there were many accused in the case and the prosecution had failed to place on record any concrete evidence specifically against the present accused regarding the firing of a rocket launcher, which destroyed the APC.

According to the prosecution, the accused along with absconders Sheraz alias Kamrade, Umer Kachi, Rashid Rekha, Abdul Jabbar alias Jhengo, Wajid alias Mndra, Shamshad, Shahid alias Bazanjo and 10 to 15 unidentified accused, armed with sophisticated weapons attacked an APC on Dec 3, 2009 near Shah Latif Bhitai Road in Lyari.

A shell of rocket launcher hit the armoured personnel carrier, which left its driver constable Mohammad Yaseen dead and five other policemen injured, it added.

A case (FIR No.363/2009) was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage, etc) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 3/4 of the Explosive Substance Act read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Baghdadi police station.

The accused was produced in custody in the court and after pronouncing the judgment the court directed jail authorities to release him if he was not wanted in any criminal case.