KARACHI, Jan 17: An appellate bench of the Sindh High Court acquitted on Thursday a man in a drug trafficking case as it allowed his appeal against life sentence awarded to him by an anti-narcotics court.

Appellant Nasir Khan was convicted by an anti-narcotics court for allegedly trafficking 21 kgs of heroin.

The bench comprised Justice Ghulam Nabi Soomro and Justice Ataur Rahman which held that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond any shadow of doubt.

The court directed the authorities to release the appellant forthwith if not required in any other case.

Counsel Mohammed Riaz submitted that the offence was committed before promulgation of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act of 1997, so the charge framed under the Act and the conviction was illegal.

He contended that there was no evidence on record that the appellant was in any way connected with the quantity of heroin allegedly recovered from a house.

AIR LEAGUE: Hearing of the petitions of the Air League and the People’s Unity of PIA, challenging the Chief Executive’s order banning trade union activities in the national airline and withdrawal of certain facilities, was adjourned to Feb 12 due to non-availability of the airline’s counsel.

When the matter came up before a division bench, comprising the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, and Justice Musheer Alam, law officer of the airline informed the court that counsel Javed Altaf was not available due to his prior commitment at the Supreme Court.

Barrister Dr Mohammed Farogh Naseem and M. L. Shahani expressed concern over what they termed a deliberate delaying tactics.

The Chief Justice observed that the airline should take the matter seriously and proceed with it. At that time Barrister Chaudhry Mohammed Jameel stood up and said he was holding brief for counsel Javed Altaf. He suggested that another opportunity be given to Mr Altaf. The court, accordingly, fixed the matter for Feb 12.