KARACHI, Sept 10: An anti-terrorism court put off on Friday hearing of a case pertaining to murder of a constable after recording the deposition of two prosecution witnesses.

Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Saturday for the next hearing after special public prosecutor examined ASI Mohammed Khalid and ASI Abdul Latif.

ASI Khalid stated that he had registered the FIR (First Information Report) on the complaint of head constable Anwarul Haq. ASI Latif submitted that he acted as a witness to the memos of site inspection and seizure of empties at the spot.

The two prosecution witnesses were also cross-examined by defence counsel Fahim Zia. Syed Amir Hussain alias Fauji, who was arrested on Nov 8, 2003, is being tried for killing Mehboob Ali and injuring two other cops on Jan 13, 2003, in the compound of the Saudabad police station.

According to prosecution, five accused were spotted by a police party in a stolen car (AAB-588). The police party intercepted them and brought the suspects and their car to the Saudabad police station.

It was alleged that one of the accused in the meantime hurled a fire-cracker. They snatched a sub-machine gun from a constable and opened fire as smoke and dust engulfed the scene after the explosion. PC Mehboob died instantly while two other policemen were injured by the accused.

The Orangi Town police had arrested two accused - Kashif and Zahir - on April 3, 2003. They were tried by the ATC-5 and were sentenced to death. The judge had also awarded multiple sentences, including life term, to Kashif Aziz alias Kashif Mota and Mohammed Zahir, who had also injured sub-inspector Abdur Rauf and head constable Mohammed Rafique.