KARACHI, May 24: An anti-terrorism court put off on Wednesday the hearing of the US Consulate bomb blast case against a worker of the banned Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi after prosecution concluded its evidence.

Judge Ghulam Ali Samtio of the ATC-1 fixed Thursday for recording the statement of accused Naveedul Hasan after special public prosecutor Naimat Ali Randhawa examined Judicial Magistrate Rehmat Ullah Morio as last of the prosecution witnesses.

The magistrate, who had recorded the confessional statements of two co-accused in the instant case, was also cross-examined by defence counsel Sami Ullah.

The two co-accused – Aalmi chief Mohammed Imran and secretary Mohammed Hanif alias Ayub – were earlier sentenced to death by the then Judge Aley Maqbool Rizvi of the same court in 2004 for killing 12 people and injuring 43 others in a car bomb attack on the US Consulate in 2003.

Judge Rizvi, who had conducted the trial inside the Central Prison, had, however, acquitted the finance secretary of the banned outfit, Mohammed Ashraf Khan, as the prosecution failed to bring incriminating evidence against him. Two Aalmi activists Sharib Arsalan Farooqui and Hafiz Mohammed Zubair had been sentenced to life in jail.

Twelve people — constable Mohammed Azam, Mohammed Ilyas, Mohammed Rizwan, Dr Aliya Waris, Shafaat Ahmed Rizvi, Ikramullah Awan, Nida Nazeer, Nazish Kareem Hussain, Farkhunda Jabeen, Mohammed Ashraf Hussain, Rehana Perveen, Rizwan Bano and head constable Obaidullah — were killed in the blast. Forty-three others, including seven policemen, were injured in the blast that had also damaged 19 vehicles.

Judicial magistrate Rehmat Ullah Morio, who appeared as last of the prosecution witnesses, deposed before the court that he had recorded the confessional statements of Aalmi leaders Mohammed Imran and Mohammed Hanif. He also placed on record the certified copies of confessional statements.

Naveedul Hassan, who was earlier declared an absconder in the consulate blast case, has also been charged with hatching a conspiracy to blow up the president’s motorcade in April 2003 within the limits of the Airport police under Section 120-B and Section 7 of the Anti-terrorist Act.

It was alleged that a Suzuki pick-up laden with explosive was parked near a shop at the Falak Naz Arcade on Sharea Faisal and absconding accused Kamran had the remote control to blow up explosives at the time of arrival of the president’s motorcade.

Kamran, who had positioned himself at a petrol pump near Star Gate allegedly pushed the remote control button several times, but the device did not work.

Naveed allegedly assembled the explosive devise and its remote control.

According to the prosecution, the Aalmi leaders, during interrogation, revealed that they wanted to kill President Musharraf for his anti-Taliban and pro-US policies.

Later, the accused used same explosive-laden vehicle in the US Consulate bombing.

It was alleged that Habibullah Khattak, who was given Rs400,000 by the Aalmi leaders, brought explosives and other weapons in a truck from the upcountry.

Accused Jamil was allegedly given Rs85,000 for purchasing the Suzuki pick-up.

Accused Sharib had stuffed the vehicle with the explosives, and Naved and Jamil had allegedly assembled the explosive devise and its remote control.

It was alleged that the Rangers official had given information regarding arrival of the president, and Mohammed Hanif, Imran, Jamil, Naveed, Aamir and Sharib had positioned themselves near Awami Markaz.