LAHORE: A judicial magistrate at Cantonment Courts on Friday summoned more prosecution witnesses for cross-examination in Khadija Siddiqui stabbing case as the defence concluded its cross-examination of the girl.

During the cross-examination, Barrister Salman Safdar, counsel for the complainant, objected to pictures presented by the defence in a bid to establish that there was a close relation between the victim and the suspect.

Barrister Safdar said the pictures were doctored and their forensic test had not been conducted either. He asked the court to reject the evidence produced by the defence as trash.

Magistrate Mubashir Awan deferred the trial for today (Saturday) and summoned more prosecution witnesses for cross-examination. PML-N MPA Uzma Bokhari was also present during the trial proceedings to show solidarity with Khadija.

Khadija, a law student, was allegedly attacked by her class fellow Shah Hussain on May 3, 2016 near Simla Hill when she along with her driver had gone to pick up her younger sister from school. Both sisters were about to get into the car when the suspect wearing a helmet attacked Khadija with a knife and stabbed her 23 times, leaving her critically injured. Civil Lines police had registered a case against Hussain on charges of attempted murder.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah had taken an administrative notice of delay in the trial and directed the magistrate to conclude the trial within 30 days by holding daily proceedings.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2017