KARACHI, July 27: The district and sessions judge, South, Agha Rafique Ahmed Khan, reserved on Wednesday order on a bail application of Farooq Mengal, an accused in the murder case of his wife Afreen Baig.

The judge fixed Aug 2 for the pronouncement of the order after hearing arguments from prosecution and defence attorneys.

Barrister Azizullah Shaikh appeared for Farooq Mengal, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi for accused Mohammad Bux Umrani and his wife Zahida, and the state was represented by special public prosecutor Iqtidar Ali Hashmi.

Mengal is alleged to have masterminded the murder of the TV artiste. The driver of the victim and his wife, who was the maid at Mengal’s house, are co-accused in the case, and have sought their bail.

Afreen Baig, a TV artiste and producer, was killed at her DHA residence allegedly by her driver, Mohammad Bux Umrani, and his wife, Zahida.

Mohammad Bux gave his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate and stated that he had killed the woman on the inducement of Farooq Mengal.

The driver, who said Farooq Mengal had promised to give him Rs1 million for killing Afreen Baig, was given in judicial custody by the judicial magistrate after his confessional statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The accused stated that Farooq Maingal was angry as he suspected illicit relations between Afreen and her former husband.

While giving his confessional statement before a judicial magistrate, the driver of the artiste, Mohammed Bux Umrani, stated that the victim’s husband had promised to give him Rs1 million for killing the woman.

The driver quoted Mengal as telling him that he suspected illicit relationship between Afreen and Masjood.

Sahib told me that he could not divorce his wife due to social pressure as he has already divorced his first wife.

The driver stated that in case of divorce he would have to give his wife alimony of Rs1 million.

Giving the details of the murder, Mohammad Bux said he sent his wife, Zahida, to Afreen’s room to bring victim’s cellular phone downstairs.

He said Afreen became infuriated and came down chasing his wife. He said that as she came down, he slapped her and then trussed her up with a sofa.

Then, he said, he made her sign two cheques for Rs250,000 each. He said he made the woman drink the entire bottle of Red Label (Scotch Whisky). Moreover, he said, then he made her drink a glass of milk, laced with sedatives.

Mohammad Bux said the woman started vomiting and he gagged her mouth and killed her. “Then, I shifted her to the bathtub and left for purchasing air tickets for his wife and himself.

He said he returned with the air tickets and went to the bank for withdrawing the money. He said since the amount was hefty, the bank manager insisted to talk to the account holder. He said his wife was holding the victim’s cellular phone and she impersonated Afreen when the manager called her.

He said the watchman of the neighbours saw them leaving the victim’s house in a haste.

He also stated that Farooq Mengal was in contact with them during and after the incident.

The trial court has framed the charges on the three accused, who are in jail. The court had earlier rejected the bail applications of the accused.