KARACHI: Two seminary students on Thursday deposed against three suspects and identified them as alleged shooters before a judicial magistrate in a case pertaining to the murder of their three fellow students.

Syed Kashif, aka Bacha; Shahnawaz, aka Shanu; and Zakaria Rana have been booked for allegedly killing Ali Ahmed, Riaz and Hayatullah and injuring as many students at a restaurant adjacent to a seminary in April in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

The judicial magistrate (east), Muqtadar Ali Khan, recorded the statements of Ismail, who also sustained wounds in the attack, and Rasheed Farooqui under Section 164 of the criminal procedure code in the presence of the suspects.

The witnesses deposed that they belonged to the Jamia Dar-ul-Khair and on April 9 they along with fellow students were having tea at the restaurant when they were attacked.

Pointing at the suspects, the witnesses identified them as alleged shooters and testified that they came to the eatery and opened fire on them.

According to the prosecution, the Rangers had confined the suspects under 90-day preventive detention and they confessed before a joint investigation team about their alleged involvement in the present case.

The paramilitary force handed over the suspects to the police and on Dec 26 an anti-terrorism court remanded them in police custody till Jan 8.

A case was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Pillion passengers get bail

Judges ordered on Thursday the release of around 60 people on bail in cases pertaining to violating a ban on pillion riding.

The police arrested them in different parts of the city for allegedly violating a ban on pillion riding. Judicial magistrates ordered their release on bail.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2015