KARACHI, Jan 11: The Sindh High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the prosecution in an appeal moved by MQM (H) secretary-general Aamir Khan against his conviction by an anti-terrorism court.

The appellant was convicted in a double murder case on Dec 15, 2004. Two co-accused were awarded life terms for killing Anjum Uzair and Mohammad Naeem of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Aamir Khan sentenced to 10 years' jail as the complainant had not shown his presence on the spot.

The appellant submitted through Advocate Azizullah K. Shaikh that the case against him was fabricated at the instance of his political rivals. The trial court did not properly consider the effect of nine days' delay in the lodging of the first information report by one of the victims, who was fatally injured.

Victim Mohammad Naeem was at no stage able to record his statement. The court also failed to appreciate the evidence of the alleged driver of the ambushed van, who was stated to have disappeared from the scene.

The alleged driver's statement should have been recorded on the day of the incident, that is, June 23, 2003, and there was no explanation why the statement was recorded 12 days later.