KARACHI, Jan 18: A man was finally acquitted by court after remaining in prison for more than 17 years without any conviction.

The accused, Afzal Haider, was booked in as many as 17 cases, mostly under section 17(3) and 14 of Enforcement of Hudood Ordinance and for robbery, in different police stations in Karachi and facing the trials since 1987.

According to Afzal's counsel Maqboolur Rehman, who is also chairman of the World Reform Commission, on filing acquittal application on behalf of the accused, the additional district and session judge, south Karachi, sought record of cases against the accused.

He said record of the accused, who at time of his arrest was 20, showed that he was acquitted by the court in the last seven cases- 12[7,122/87,150/87, 15[7.152/ 87,15]7,154/87- on April 6, 1998.

Earlier, he mentioned, petition No 1967/1993 was filed in the Sindh High Court, and the then chief justice granted bail to Afzal, but on Dec 12, 1993, he was shifted to Lahore jail in another case lodged against him.

Mr Rehman said that Afzal remained in Lahore jail for almost ten years, and after disposal of case, he was again shifted to Karachi jail in May 2004, and since then he was not produced before any court. -PPI