HYDERABAD: Police on Saturday submitted charge sheet against three suspects in Tania Khaskheli murder case to antiterrorism court (ATC), which fixed hearing of the case on Jan 13.

In the previous hearing on Dec 4, the ATC judge had given last chance to the suspects Ali alias Aali Nohani and Khan Mohammad alias Khano Nohani to engage a counsel. Otherwise, they would be declared paupers and counsel would be engaged for them on state expense, said the judge.

The third suspect, Maula Bux Nohani, had already obtained services of a counsel while all three suspects had denied the charges.

They were arrested by Sehwan police on charges of involvement in the murder of Tania Khaskheli who was allegedly gunned down by Khan Mohammad on Sept 7 for refusing to marry him.

Police had first arrested Maula Bux and Khan Mohammad and then laid hands on Ali alias Aali. Siraj Lashari, the investigating officer, had put the name of Maula Bux in column-2 of the final challan which meant that police had insufficient evidence against him.

Police contended the charge sheet against Maula Bux and Khan Mohammad was submitted on the ground that both were identified by eyewitnesses Sajjad, Javed and Abdul Qadir Khaskheli during identification parade before civil judge and judicial magistrate-I of Sehwan.

Police had registered the murder case on a complaint lodged by Abdul Qadir Khaskheli, Tania’s father, under various sections of Pakistan Penal Code. Later on, police also added Sections 6/7 of ATA to the FIR.

IGP Sindh had directed Dr Aftab Pathan, additional IGP, to probe the case on the directives of Sindh High Court and he formed a team headed by Siraj Lashari to investigate the case.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017