KARACHI, Jan 28: The framing of charge in kidnapping for ransom case against former Sindh senior minister Imtiaz Shaikh and other accused was deferred till Feb 1 by Haq Nawaz Baloch, Judge, Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-V) for Karachi division on Saturday.

When the proceedings commenced, counsel for one of the accused, Ateeq, said that he is yet to receive copies of the prosecution witnesses and other case papers.

He sought adjournment on ground of incomplete copies.

The bench allowed the same deferring framing of charge till Feb 1.

The court also appointed Shaukat Zubedi and M R Syed as counsel for five of the absconding accused on state expenses.

Daniel PEARL case: An Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi, headed by Judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, on Saturday adjourned the hearing of a trial against Mohammad Hashim alias Arif, one out of five proclaimed offenders arrested by the police in a kidnapping and killing conspiracy case of US journalist Daniel Pearl till Feb 18.

The accused was not produced before the court as matter regarding trial of accused was not decided yet by the Sindh home department as to whether his trial is to be conducted inside jail premises or in the court.—APP/PPI