KARACHI, July 26: A division bench of Sindh High Court, comprising Justice Muhammad Mujeebullah Siddiqui and Justice Muhammad Afzal Soomro, directed Sindh Assistant Advocate-General to inform the court about the progress in trial of Murtaza Bhutto murder case against Asif Ali Zardari and others.

The bench was hearing a criminal miscellaneous application filed by Asif Ali Zardari against an order of a subordinate court, which dismissed an application by Asif Zardari seeking direction to trial court to keep applicant in Karachi for his lumbar region ailment.

When the application came up for hearing before the bench on Monday morning, the applicant counsel Farooq H. Naek submitted a certificate issued by Dr Imtiaz Hashmi pertaining to the treatment given to Asif Zardari.

The court directed the counsel to supply a copy of the certificate to AAG Ahmed Pirzada. The AAG sought time from the court to verify that whether the said treatment is only available at the Ziauddin Medical University in Karachi or also at any other hospital in Islamabad.

Barrister Azizullah Shaikh, appearing for the applicant in Mir Murtaza Bhutto case, informed the bench that the prosecution had submitted a list of 400 witnesses. However, the prosecution side would now examine 40 PWs in all, he said and added that only two prosecution witnesses had been examined so far.

The bench asked AAG Ahmed Pirzada when the prosecution would be able to produce all PWs before the trial court so that possibility of giving direction to trial court could be considered.

The AAG stated that he was not in a position to make any statement regarding the stage of trial and to the query posed by the court. He sought time to seek instructions. However, he opposed adjournment of hearing of application till Aug 12 as suggested by the counsel for applicant. After hearing Farooq Naek and AAG Ahmed Pirzada, the bench put off hearing till Aug 12.

VESSEL CASE: Sindh High Court allowed on Monday foreign flag vessel M.T. Emblem to sail, subject to furnishing the bank guarantee. Justice Maqbool Baqar of Sindh High Court was hearing the lawsuit for recovery of US$114,875 against the vessel by M/s Tahir Omer industries.