KARACHI, June 28: Naeem Ahmed, an absconder in a rape and murder case, was on Saturday indicted before Judge Arshad Noor Khan of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC)-III Karachi.

The accused denied the charges levelled by prosecution against him and pleaded not guilty.

According to prosecution, Waris, Naeem and Khalid came at flat of Munawar Ali, a property dealer, in Classic View Apartments, Gulistan-i-Johar, on June 9, 2001, along with Munawar’s employee, Maqsood, to discuss business matters. After Maqsood left, they killed Munawar and raped his wife.

Police had earlier arrested Waris and Maqsood, who were tried in ATC Karachi. The ATC’s Judge on December 12, 2001, had sentenced Waris to death on charge of killing Munawar Ali and raping his wife. He was also awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment on charge of injuring Munawar’s wife.

Maqsood was released, while Naeem and Khalid were declared absconders in the said case.

Later, the convict challenged the ATC judgment in the Sindh High Court, and a division bench of the SHC allowed his appeal against death sentence and commuted his jail term to five years on May 22, 2003.

Special Public Prosecutor, Naimat Ali Randhawa, appeared for state, while Zahid Rohaila advocate represented the accused.

Meanwhile, Judge Aley Maqbool Rizvi of the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC)-I Karachi, on Saturday adjourned hearing of the conspiracy case to assassinate President General Pervez Musharraf, against some activists of a banned religious organization, Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Alami, as one of defence counsels could not appear before the court.

ATC’s Judge, who is conducting trial in central jail Karachi, fixed July 5, 2003, for next hearing.

Mohammad Hanif, Mohammad Imran, Sharib Arsalan Farooqui, Mohammad Asharaf Khan and Ranger’s ex-Inspector, Waseem Akhtar, are being tried for their alleged involvement in the conspiracy.

According to prosecution, the accused parked a jeep, loaded with explosives, fitted with a remote control device, at the Shahrah-i-Faisal, through which motorcade of President Musharraf was to pass on April 27, 2002.

The accused were booked under sections 120-A, 120-B and 324 of the PPC and section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act.—PPI