KARACHI, Sept 13: An anti-terrorism court put off on Monday hearing of a murder case after recording the statement of a prosecution witness. Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 fixed Sept 13 for the next hearing after special public prosecutor Mazhar Qayyum examined sub-inspector Abdur Rauf.

Syed Amir Hussain alias Fauji, who was arrested on November 8, 2003, is being tried for killing Mehboob Ali and injuring two other cops, including SI Rauf, on January 13, 2003 in the compound of the Saudabad police station.

The injured police official stated that he received the information about the presence of the accused in the vicinity. He said he along with other policemen reached Naeem Hospital where they spotted the five accused, occupying a stolen car.

SI Rauf stated that a number of people gathered at the scene as the police conducted the body-search of the three of the accused. He said the police could not conduct the search of two accused due to the mob. He said they brought the accused and their car to police station.

The prosecution witness stated that the accused got down the car and one of them hurled a fire cracker. They snatched an SMG from a constable and opened fire as smoke and dust engulfed the scene after the explosion.

He said PC Mehboob died instantly and he and one of his colleagues were injured. 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.