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KARACHI, Aug 7: Non-bailable warrants of arrests were issued against nine absconding accused in corps commander convoy attack case by Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, judge, anti-terrorism court (ATC-II) Karachi division, on Saturday
The absconders include Adnan Shah alias Tippu, Mohammad Qasim, Rao Khalid, Shahab, Bilal, Tayyab, Hammad and Faseeh belong to Jund Allah, a newly-formed terrorist group. Earlier, investigation police submitted a report before the ATC-II stating that absconding accused went underground and could not be traced despite untiring efforts.
The court later adjourned the hearing of main case against Ata-ur-Rahman alias Tahir, Shehzad Mukhtar alias Talha, Danish Imam, Khurram Saifullah alias Ans, Shehzad Ahmed alias Taimur, Najeebullah alias Atif, Kashif Abdullah alias Uzair, Yaqoob Saeed alias Burmi and Shoaib Siddiqui alias Usman till Aug 18.
According to the prosecution, the accused fired at the convoy of the Corps Commander, Corp 5, on June 10. Seven personnel of the armed forces and several other persons, including two policemen, died in the attack by un-identified gunmen. Corps Commander remained unscathed in the attack.
Syed Iqtidar Ali Hashmi, advocate, will represent state as special public prosecutor while accused are being defended by Shaukat Hayat and Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, advocates.
The accused are facing multiple murder charges, attempt to murder and acts of terrorism, including bomb blast, targeting government officials and functionaries. All charges carry capital punishment.
WAHEED BROTHERS CASE: The hearing of a case against doctor brothers Dr Arshad Waheed and Dr Akmal Waheed was put off till Aug 18 by Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, judge, anti-terrorism court (ATC-II) for Karachi division, on Saturday.
The adjournment came as the accused were not produced by the jail authorities before the court due to security and logistic reasons. Earlier, Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, advocate, filed power on behalf of two doctors and Syed Iqtidar Ali Hashmi who was appointed special public prosecutor in the case made his first appearance.
Both the accused are facing charges under section 207, 212,215, 261 of PPC and section 31 ( C) of ATA, 1997.
They are accused of harbouring Al Qaeda operatives and treating injured belonging to newly discovered "Jund-Allah" activists who sustained injuries in different acts of terrorism conducted by their accomplices in Karachi.
The court also allowed a meeting of Ghulam Qadir Jatoi, advocate, defence counsel with his clients inside Karachi Central Prison. The counsel met with clients for one hour as allowed by the court. Later, Mr Jatoi told reporters that his clients told him (counsel) that they were subjected to physical torture and coerced to sign different statements by the investigators while in their custody.
SECTARIAN CASE: An anti-terrorism court in Karachi, headed by Judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti, on Saturday adjourned the hearing in a sectarian killing case against two activists of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi on the request of defence counsel.
Abdul Wahab Afghani and Shahnawaz alias Shani are charged with killing nine persons and injuring eight others at an Imambargah in Al-Falah Malir on Feb 22, 2003.
Defence counsel Maqboolur Rehman, who filed power on behalf of accused requested for an adjournment.
The trial, which is being conducted in central jail Karachi, was now fixed for Aug 16 for the next hearing. Special Public Prosecutor Maula Bux Bhatti is representing the State.
According to prosecution, Wahab and Shahnawaz, along with other absconding accused, fired on people with automatic weapons when they were going to offer Maghreb prayers at Imambargah Al-Muntazir Al-Mehdi, Malir.
Meanwhile, the court put off hearing of an application by defence side seeking B-Class to Dr. Akmal Waheed and Dr. Arshad Waheed in jail as special public prosecutor Maula Bux Bhatti sought time.
The court granting time to the SPP fixed Aug 9 for hearing of the application. Shaukat Hayat, advocate, appeared for the doctor brothers.
Some Jundullah activists arrested in connection with an attack on the corps commander's convoy, law -enforcers killing and other bomb blast cases, during investigation stated that doctors have close links with them and they were extending help by all means.
According to prosecution, doctors sent Jundullah activists Shahzad Ahmed Bajwa and Mohammad Qasim to Wana through their personal assistant Kashif. It stated that they met Edia Khan, a militant of Wana having close links with Al-Qaeda, where they got training for using weapons and explosive devices.
Police alleged that doctors gave asylum to Al-Qaeda persons Abul Hasab, Gul Hasan, Hasamul Sani at different places in Karachi.-APP/PPI
