KARACHI, Jan 22: The self-styled chief of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Akram Lahori, and his two associates denied on Wednesday their involvement in the murder of the PSO MD.

Recording their statements before the anti-terrorism court No. 4, headed by Judge Khan Pervaiz Chang, the three defendants also disputed their date and place of arrest as claimed by the police.

The judge, who is holding trial inside the Central Prison, Karachi, put off the hearing of the case after the statements of Lahori, Mohammed Azam and Ataullah.

The chief of the banned sectarian outfit and his two associates are being tried for killing Shaukat Mirza, MD of the PSO, and his driver on July 26, 2001.

The last two PWs — SHO Qamaruz Zaman and Inspector Tariq Islam — were also cross-examined by defence counsel M. R. Syed.

The prosecution, led by special public prosecutor Maula Bux Bhatti, examined in all 18 PWs in the case.

CONVICTED: The special anti-narcotics court, headed by Judge Ali Nawaz Pirzada, sentenced a Nigerian drug trafficker to suffer rigorous imprisonment for three years.

Sainboy Lessey, who had concealed 685 grams of heroin in his rectum, was arrested on Sept 15 last year at the Quaid-i- Azam International Airport. He was intercepted by the Anti- Narcotics Force.

The drug trafficker was later sent to the JPMC where he excreted 50 drug-filled capsules.

The judge also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the convict, who would have to undergo an additional six-month term.

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