KARACHI, Oct 22: An anti-terrorism court put off on Wednesday the hearing of a sectarian murder case against the chief of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and his three associates.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5, who is conducting the trial inside the Juvenile Prison, fixed Oct 24 for the next hearing following the adjournment application moved by the defence counsel.

LJ chief Akram Lahori, Ataullah, Mohammed Azam and Malik Tassaduq were charged with the killing of Seth Ramzan Ali, owner of Pak-Iranian Tea Company, at his outlet in Saddar on Feb 11 last year. Ehsan Ali, an employ at the tea company, and Mohammed Firdous, a customer, were also injured in the attack. The attackers also hurled an explosive devise which devastated the victim’s shop.

The special public prosecutor, Naimat Ali Randhawa, told the court that a judicial magistrate was present to record her deposition. Judicial Magistrate Lubna Yousuf, the 16th prosecution witness, could not appear before the court on the last hearing due to illness.

The judge ordered the prosecution to examine the witness on the next date of hearing.