KARACHI, Dec 1: An anti-terrorism court put off on Monday the hearing of a sectarian murder case against two workers of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi after an eye-witness identified the two accused.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5, who is conducting the trial inside the Juvenile Prison, fixed Tuesday for the next hearing when the prosecution would examine further evidence in the case.

The LJ men — Mohammed Azam and Ataullah — have been charged with the murder of Mohammed Hamid Ali Rizvi on Sept 1, 2001 within the limits of the Clifton police.

The eye-witness, Sadiq Shah who appeared as seventh witness for the prosecution, deposed that he was a labourer and was doing his work at an under-construction house near the spot. He said the accused, who were riding on a bike, opened fire on their victim as he appeared there in his white-coloured car.

Defence counsel, M. R. Syed, also cross-examined the prosecution witness, who had earlier identified the two accused in an identification parade before a judicial magistrate. Special public prosecutor, Mazhar Qayyum, is representing the state.

SENTENCED: The additional district and sessions judge, Central, Muhammed Zareef Qureshi, sentenced a man to life term for killing his brother-in-law.

Accused Mohammed Ehsan, who killed his wife’s brother Mehboob Kalab in Liaquatabad, was arrested on June 20, 1999, while he was throwing the pieces of the victim’s body in the limits of the Zaman Town police.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on the convict, who would have to undergo an additional two-year term in case of default on the payment.