KARACHI: An antiterrorism court on Saturday reserved its judgment against former Sindh home minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza and his over 50 aides in three cases pertaining to attacking a police station, resorting to violence and rioting in Badin in 2015.

The disgruntled and disowned leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, along with his 55 associates, was charged with storming a police station, abusing police officers, forcibly shutting down markets in the district, trying to kill two shopkeepers and robbing their shops, rioting, blocking a road and damaging property during a sit-in on May 3, 2015.

On Saturday, the matter came up before the ATC-I judge for arguments on an application moved by the former home minister seeking his acquittal in the present cases.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge reserved his judgement to be pronounced on Monday (April 12).

According to the prosecution, complainant Sub-Inspector Wali Mohammad Chang lodged an FIR, alleging that Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza along with his supporters armed with deadly weapons forcibly entered the police station and wanted to lodge a complaint against the then president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, the then IG police Sindh Ghulam Hyder Jamali, and the then SSP Badin. It further mentioned that the then SHO Badin Abdul Qadir Samoon told him to seek permission of high-ups on which Dr Mirza got infuriated and hurled threats at him and also damaged the mobile phone of the SHO.

Two other cases were lodged by complainants Imtiaz Ali and Haji Taj Mohammad, who claimed that Dr Mirza along with his supporters armed with deadly weapons, resorted to rioting, attempted to murder them and also damaged their shops due to political enmity.

The cases were lodged under relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 at the Badin police station.

Mureed Abbas murder case

The additional district and sessions judge (South), Faraz Ahmed Chandio, on Saturday issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the witnesses for not turning up to record their testimonies against the accused persons in a case pertaining to murder of anchorperson Mureed Abbas and another individual over a dispute involving alleged shady investments worth billions of rupees.

When the matter was taken up, the main accused Atif Zaman was produced from prison, but he informed the court that he had not engaged a defence counsel so far.

In the meanwhile, the investigating officer of the case failed to produce any witness of the prosecution for recording their statements.

Taking notice of their absence, the judge issued non-bailable warrants for arresting all the witnesses, directing the IO to arrest and produce them on the next date and adjourned the hearing till April 24.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2021