KARACHI, Jan 5: An anti-terrorism court reserved on Thursday judgment in the rangers van attack case against two workers of the banned Jundullah.

Judge Feroze Mehmood Bhatti of ATC-2 fixed Jan 21 for the pronouncement of verdict after hearing final arguments from special public prosecutors Iqtidar Ali Hashmi and Maula Bux Bhatti and defence counsel M R Syed.

Ataur Rehman and Shahzad Ahmed Bajwa have been prosecuted for attacking the rangers’ mobile van on March 19, 2004, under Baloch Colony Bridge in Ferozabad police area. Two rangers were killed and three others were injured in the incident.

The two accused disputed their time of arrest and stated that they were arrested by law enforcement agencies on June 12, 2004, while the police had shown their arrest on June 13. They also placed on record the news clipping of an Urdu daily to substantiate their claim.

The prosecutors prayed to the court to award maximum punishment to the Jundullah men as the prosecution had proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt.

The prosecution examined in all 19 prosecution witnesses, who also included seven eye-witnesses.

The defence counsel argued that his clients be acquitted as the case of prosecution was full of contradictions.

He submitted that the depositions of witnesses were not trustworthy in the eyes of law as there were glaring contradictions in their evidences. Meanwhile, the same court reserved the judgement in a case pertaining to spreading sectarian hatred.

Qari Abdur Rehman has been prosecuted for possessing objectionable material. He was arrested by the Steel Town police in 2004.

The judge fixed Jan 9 for the pronouncement of judgment after hearing final arguments from the defence and prosecution attorneys.

COP’S MURDER CASE: An anti-terrorism court put off the hearing of a murder case of a constable after hearing the final arguments from the defence counsel.

Judge Syed Saghir Hussain Zaidi of the ATC-3 fixed Friday for hearing final arguments from special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa.

Ghulam Qadir Patni has been charged with the killing of constable Jahangir on March 23, this year within the limits of Baghdadi police.

According to prosecution, constables Jahangir and Anser were patrolling the vicinity on their motorcycle. They spotted accused Ghulam Qadir Patni and his absconding accomplice Shaukat who were also riding a bike. The policemen signalled the motorcyclists to stop, but they tried to speed away. However, the policemen overtook their bike on the D D Chaudhry Road and tried to stop the accused. The accused took out their pistols and opened fire on the policemen. PC Jahangir received four bullets and died shortly after being shifted to the Civil Hospital.

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