KARACHI, June 9: Judicial Magistrate Central Karachi on Friday acquitted three activists of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi in firing case as prosecution failed to prove charge against them.

Abdul Wahab Afghani, Shahnawaz alias Shani and Shoukat were prosecuted for firing on police party to avoid arrest in the limits of Khawaja Ajmer Nagri police station Karachi on May 7, 2003.

Abdul Wahab Afghani was arrested in injured condition after the shootout while the remaining two accused were arrested later on.

Defendants' counsel Mushtaq Ahmed contended that the testimony of the witnesses were not trustworthy and there were glaring contradictions in their statements which could not be relied upon.

He said that the prosecution had failed to prove its case, therefore, the defendants be acquitted of charge.

The JM, after hearing the case, observed that prosecution had failed to prove its case against the accused and ordered their release if not involved in other cases.—PPI