ISLAMABAD: The wife of a suspect in the Imran Farooq murder case on Wednesday appealed to the chief justice to also ensure that litigants get speedy justice along with fulfilling his quest for the provision of pure milk for the people of Pakistan.

During the trial proceedings of the Imran Farooq murder case, Sadia Moazzam, the wife of suspect Moazzam Ali, insisted that the judge of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) decide the case either way in order to put an end to the agony the family faces at every hearing.

“Buffaloes are more fortunate than us because the chief justice is taking notice of the injections used to induce them to produce more milk,” she said during the trial proceeding.

She threatened to pour petrol over herself and set herself on fire if the case is delayed again for one reason or the other and even asked ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi to convict her husband and hang him.

Saadia complained that the prosecution was not taking the case seriously and that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had only appointed the prosecutor after she petitioned in the Islamabad High Court in this regard.

Beena Khalid, the wife of another suspect Khalid Shamim, however, distanced herself from Sadia’s comments and maintained that her husband was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case.

She told the court about her financial problems since her husband was put behind bars seven years ago and that it is difficult for her to attend hearings and meet her husband in jail while looking after the family.

“Put yourself in our place for a moment,” she told the judge.

Judge Zaidi advised not to use such remarks against the chief justice but sympathised with the women.

“I understand what you must feel but several appeals have also prolonged the case,” Judge Zaidi said and assured the women that the court will try its best to decide the case in two months.

Meanwhile, FIA prosecutor Khawaja Imtiaz told the court that the proclamation advertisement for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussein has been published in international newspapers and that the time to surrender before the court ends on March 9.

He then requested the court to adjourn the matter.

Judge Zaidi directed the FIA prosecutor to submit the supplementary charge sheet on March 14, saying the court will indict the suspects on the same date. The court also directed the FIA to come prepared to the next hearing so the formalities pertaining to trial in the absence of the accused can also be completed.

Two suspects, Shamim and Syed Mohsin Ali, have already recorded their confessional statements before the magistrate, claiming that Dr Imran Farooq was killed as he was a threat to the MQM leadership.

Shamim said the murder was a “birthday gift” for MQM founder Altaf Hussain while Syed said he took part in the crime because he was promised a position in the London secretariat of the MQM.

Moazzam Ali has not yet recorded a confessional statement in the case.

On Dec 5, 2015 the FIA had registered a case against MQM Chief Altaf Hussein and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in the 2010 murder of Dr Imran Farooq.

Dr Farooq was killed near his residence in Green Lane, Edgware in Sept 2010.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2018