KARACHI, Dec 4: The additional district and sessions Judge-II (Central), Nelofer Shahnawaz Azimi, on Tuesday issued bailable warrants for five policemen, a medico-legal officer (MLO) and four other prosecution witnesses for not appearing in court in a double murder case.

Earlier, the court had issued notices to Sub-inspector Sajid, Investigation Officer Mehmood Akthar, Sub-inspector Ghulam Mustafa, Sub-inspector Mohammad Arif, Constable Mohammad Sarfaraz, an MLO of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Dr Zafar Shah Khan, Naseer Ahmed, Mohammad Altaf, Mohammad Younus and Sakeena Bibi to testify in the case, but they reportedly failed to appear in court on Tuesday.

According to the prosecution, Abdul Latif, 70, had stabbed to death the brother and uncle of his son-in-law, Mushtaq Ahmed, in the limits of Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police station on Sept 27, 2000.

The injured Waris Hussain and Farman Ali succumbed to their injuries though they were rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. The post-mortem examination of the bodies was conducted by Dr Zafar Shah Khan. However, the MLO did not appear in court to testify. The accused was booked under Section-302 of the Pakistan Penal Code in a case (FIR No 177/2000) registered at Khwaja Ajmer Nagri police station.

The court has fixed Dec 18 as the next date of hearing.