BOMBAY: Rafiq Sabir Mazangavi (25) who was charged with attempt to commit murder and causing hurt to Mr. M.A. Jinnah, President of the All-India Muslim League, on July 26, was unanimously found guilty by a common Jury of the Bombay High Court today [Nov 4]. Justice Blagden convicted the accused to five years’ rigorous imprisonment.

Justice Blagden’s court was packed to the full with lawyers and members of the public … The jury returned after five minutes’ retirement and delivered the unanimous verdict “accused guilty”. There was pin-drop silence in the court and in clear tones His Lordship addressed the accused: “…I do not think that you were actuated by any personal animosity against Mr. Jinnah and however misguided you may be I believe that you want to see your country happy and prosperous and that you felt that Mr. Jinnah was an obstacle in the way of that. Having said that, I have said all that can be said in your favour. No country can be happy or prosperous which condones murder for political purposes or any other purpose. The only result of condoning political murder is to substitute the rule of the hooligan for the rule of reason.... You and misguided people like you have got to be taught that fact by punishment and example of punishment.…”

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2018