KARACHI, Aug 21: ASI Abdul Hameed, a prosecution witness, was declared hostile by the District and Sessions Judge, East, Zafar Ahmed Khan Sherwani on Saturday on the request of special public prosecutor, M Ilyas Khan.

During the examination-in-chief conducted by the SPP, prosecution witness Abdul Hameed resiled from his earlier statement before the investigating officer that the then ASP Rai Tahir handed him a written FIR which was then incorporated in the FIR book on Sept 23, 1996, three days after the incident.

The SPP at this stage requested the court to declare him hostile and allow cross-examination of the witness turned hostile.

During cross-examination, ASI Abdul Hameed admitted that it was ASP Rai Tahir, presently SSP, who gave him the written FIR and that his earlier statement was false in which he deposed before this court that the FIR was given to him by Asghar Ali, a domestic servant of the deceased/victim, Mir Murtaza Bhutto.

ASI Abdul Hameed also admitted that accused Rai Tahir took Asghar Ali to the office of the then chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah, an absconding accused in the case.

The prosecution also examined a KESC employee posted in the area. The court later put of further proceedings till Sept 11.-APP