KARACHI, April 24: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday threw out the petition of Shahrukh Jatoi, the prime accused in Shahzeb Khan’s murder case, seeking transfer of his case from an anti-terrorism court to a sessions court.

Shahrukh Jatoi, Nawab Siraj Ali Talpur, his younger brother Nawab Sajjad Ali Talpur and their house servant Ghulam Murtaza Lashari have been charged with the murder of 20-year-old Shahzeb in Defence Housing Authority on the night of Dec 24, 2012 after a bickering.

The petitioner challenged the decision of an anti-terrorism court regarding dismissal of his application seeking transfer of the case from the ATC to a sessions court.

He submitted that the investigation officer had added Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 in the charge-sheet only because of a media campaign against him though the FIR lodged against him did not contain any element of terrorism.

A division bench headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah dismissed accused Jatoi’s petition through

a short order observing the reasons for dismissal would be recorded later.

ATC adjourns hearing

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing of Shahzeb murder case on a request of the defence counsel till Thursday.

The hearing was fixed for cross-examination of investigating officer and when it came up for hearing before the ATC-III on Wednesday, the counsel heading a panel of lawyers for Shahrukh Jatoi sent an adjournment application.

The counsel stated that he was a resident of North Nazimabad and it was not possible for him to appear before the court due to what he said the poor law and order situation in the city.