KARACHI, July 6: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising Justices Musheer Alam and Ali Sain Dino Metlo, on Friday adjourned the hearing of an appeal filed by Aamir Khan, the chairman of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi), and others against conviction in a double murder case.

Aamir Khan was sentenced to 10 years in jail and three co-accused Tariq Bata, Kala Nazim, Rais Topi awarded life terms by an anti-terrorism court in Karachi on December 15, 2004 in a double murder case. They were charged with killing Anjum Uzair and Mohammad Naeem and injuring Muhammad Shahid, activist of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on June 23, 2003 during the bye-election in NA-255 Landhi, Karachi.

Dissatisfied with the trial court judgment, Aamir and another co-accused Tariq Bata approached the High Court, praying to set aside the trial court order and acquit them. The state also filed an appeal for the enhancement of the sentence of all the four convicts.

The applicants through Advocate Azizullah K. Shaikh submitted that the case against them was fabricated at the instance of political rivals. The trial court did not properly consider the effect of a nine-day delay in the lodging of the FIR by one of the victims, who was fatally injured, the appellants said.

On Friday, the court adjourned the hearing of the appeal as no counsel for the co-accused Tariq Bata appeared. Adjourning the matter for a date in office, the division bench directed Tariq Bata to nominate a defence counsel or the court would appoint an advocate for him.—PPI