KARACHI, Aug 19: District and Sessions Judge, East Karachi, Sain Ali Dino Matilo, on Tuesday adjourned hearing of Mir Murtaza Bhutto murder case against ex-Senator Asif Ali Zardari and others, after completing cross-examination on a prosecution witness by defence counsels.

The judge, who is conducting trial in central jail Karachi, fixed Aug 27 for next hearing with the consent of both sides.

Defence counsels completed cross-examination on witness Dr Karar Abbasi, a Medico Legal Officer (MLO) of the Civil Hospital Karachi.

The MLO stated that he was called by police surgeon to the Jinnah Post-graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to conduct autopsy of an unidentified person, who had received bullet in his head. He stated that he conducted the autopsy from 7:30am to 9am.

When the matter, seeking transfer of Asif Zardari to Punjab for hearing of pending cases against him, was taken up, State’s counsel told court that it was suggested that the trial be conducted on monthly basis in each province.

The court ruled, after hearing arguments of counsels, that the matter would be decided on next hearing.

Murtaza Bhutto, brother of Benazir Bhutto, was killed along with six others, including his close aide Ashiq Jatoi, in September 1996, near his residence in Clifton, Karachi, in an alleged shootout.

Asif Zardari, Shoaib Suddle, then DIG Police Karachi, Wajid Durrani, then senior superintendent police, South, Masood Sharif, then chief of Intelligence Bureau, Shahid Hiyat, then SP of Saddar, Rai Mohammed Tahir, then ASP of Darkhshan police, Shabbir Ahmed Qaimkhani, then SHO of Garden police station, Agha Mohammed Jameel, then SHO of Napier PS, and other policemen were accused in the case.—PPI