KARACHI: Advocate Naimat Ali Randhawa’s case took a new turn on Saturday as his son failed to identify before an antiterrorism court two detained accused men as killers of his father.

Syed Kazim Abbas Rizvi and Noman with their three absconding accomplices have been charged with killing Mr Randhawa in North Nazimabad on Sept 26, 2013.

On Saturday, the case was fixed before the ATC-XVI judge for recording the statement of a key prosecution witness. A day earlier, his statement was recorded partially.

The eyewitness, the victim’s son Tauqeer Randhawa, deposed before the court that he was travelling with his father on the day of the incident when unknown motorcyclists intercepted their vehicle in North Nazimabad and opened fire on it. However, he further testified that he had put his head down as the firing started, therefore, he could not see the attackers.

Tauqeer Randhawa seeks security for himself, family against ‘threats from unknown persons’

The key eyewitness failed to identify Rizvi and Noman, who were produced before the court, as the accused involved in the armed attack.

The witness deposed that his life was in danger as he was receiving threats from unknown persons. He pleaded that police high-ups be directed to provide him and his family members security at the earliest.

After recording his statement, the judge adjourned hearing till Oct 23. In the meanwhile, the court also directed the additional IG to ensure adequate security was provided to the witness since he had complained about receiving life threats from unknown persons.

According to the prosecution, senior lawyer Randhawa was gunned down in North Nazimabad on the night of Sept 26, 2013 in an armed attack in which his son Tauqeer Randhawa also sustained bullet wounds.

The slain lawyer was a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N’s legal wing in Sindh and counsel for the complainant in the reporter Wali Khan Babar murder case.

Initially, accused Syed Kazim Abbas Rizvi, who is said to be associated with Unit 178 of the MQM’s organisational structure, was detained during a joint action by police and Rangers in Gizri.

The investigating officer had claimed in the progress report that during initial interrogation Rizvi, an employee of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, had disclosed his involvement in the murder of Advocate Randhawa. In the report, his three alleged accomplices, Noman, Salman and Rehan, were shown as absconders. Therefore, the court had declared them as proclaimed offenders.

The prosecution had linked Randhawa’s killing with the murder of TV journalist Wali Khan Babar, who was killed in Liaquatabad in January 2011, as the slain lawyer was pursuing the case on behalf of the complainant side.

A case (FIR 280/13) was registered under sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 on a complaint of the deceased’s son at the North Nazimabad police station.

On Friday, the court had framed amended charges against Rizvi and Noman in the case. However, they pleaded not guilty and opted to contest.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2018