ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday rejected an appeal against the Shia Ulema Council leader Allama Sajid Naqvi’s acquittal from the charges of abetment in the murder of outlawed Sipah-i-Sahaba chief Maulana Azam Tariq.

A division bench, comprising Justice Noorul Haq N Qureshi and Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, upheld the November 27, 2004, decision of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) exonerating Allama Naqvi along with Amanullah Seyyal.

Alim Tariq, a brother of Maulana Azam Tariq, had filed the appeal through his counsel Basharatullah Khan against the two Shia leaders’ acquittal in the murder case.

Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, the counsel for Allama Naqvi, argued before the court that no charge against his client was proved before the ATC, which led to his acquittal.

Alim Tariq had filed another appeal against the acquittal of two other persons - Mudassar Ali and Mohammad Ali - who were tried in the ATC for their alleged involvement in the murder of Azam Tariq.

Basharatullah Khan argued before the IHC that the two accused were arrested on February 19, 2007. He said the witnesses identified the accused in an identification parade but the ATC acquitted them. The IHC bench admitted the appeal and issued notices to the two accused and adjourned the hearing to a date to be fixed by the court office. Azam Tariq was murdered in the limits of the Golra police in Islamabad on October 6, 2003.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2015

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