KARACHI, April 30: All four accused facing trial in the Shahzeb murder case denied their involvement in the murder and said on Tuesday that they were framed by the investigation officer of the case who wanted to save his skin.

The four accused — Shahrukh Jatoi, Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur, his younger brother Nawab Sajjad Ali Talpur and their house servant Ghulam Murtaza Lashari — gave their statements in court under Section 342(I) of the criminal procedure code.

Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon of the ATC-III read out a set of questions about charges, including teasing the deceased’s sister, bickering with him at his apartment, extending death threats and killing him.

However, the accused persons denied all the allegations and said they were innocent.

Responding to a question as to why prosecution witnesses deposed against them, they replied that they did so because of their relation and friendship with the deceased.

The accused persons contended that the case against them was false and the investigation officer, Inspector Mohammad Mobin, farmed them to save his skin as the Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice in the present case.

After the completion of their statements, the counsel for accused Shahrukh informed the court that they would produce defence witnesses in order to prove their client guiltless.

The counsel submitted a list of 10 defence witnesses in court, while Siraj also said that he would also examine a witness in his defence.

The court adjourned the hearing till Thursday for the evidence of defence witnesses.

The prosecution had on April 27 closed its side after examining 23 witnesses.

Meanwhile, the court reserved its order till May 2 on an application moved by the defence regarding re-examination of a 9mm pistol, the alleged crime weapon, and empty bullet casings.

Counsel Shaukat Zubedi, who headed a panel of lawyers defending Shahrukh, moved the application and argued that as a forensic science laboratory (FSL) expert did not appear to testify before the trial court, the weapon, allegedly recovered on the information of Shahrukh, and spent bullet casings, claimed to be found from the place of the incident, be sent again for an analysis.

However, special public prosecutor Abdul Maroof opposed the plea and submitted that there was no need for the re-evaluation as the weapon and empties had already been examined by the FSL expert and the report was on the record of the court and the same was admissible under Section 510 of the criminal procedure code. The application was amount to delay the trial and liable to be dismissed, he contended.

The accused persons have been charged with killing 20-year-old Shahzeb in Defence Housing Authority on the night of Dec 24, 2012.

Nawab Ali Jatoi, a brother of Shahrukh, Khurram Mohammad, a director of the Sikandar Jatoi group of companies, Salman Jatoi and Asif Lund were the absconding in the case.The accused were booked in a case under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 216 (harbouring offender who has escaped from custody whose apprehension has been ordered), 109 (abetment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 on a complaint of deceased’s father DSP Aurangzeb at the Darakhshan police station.