KARACHI, Jan 25: Four prosecution witnesses identified on Friday two workers of the Tehrik-i-Jafferia Pakistan, being tried for the murder of two workers of the Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan in an anti-terrorism court.
Judge Abdul Hamid Abro of ATC-2 put off the hearing of the case against Syed Muhammed Qasim and Hasan Ali till Saturday, when some more prosecution witnesses would record their evidence.
The two SSP activists — Muhammed Iqbal and Abdullah — were killed and 10 others were wounded when their vehicle was fired upon on Oct 22, last year. The victims were on their way after attending a party rally.
The two TJP men along with five others, including the provincial cheif of the party, Allama Hasan Turrabi, were booked in the FIR registered with the SITE police.
Syed Muhammed Qasim and Hasan Ali were arrested by the police and five others, including Allama Hasan Turrabi, Mirza Yousuf and Asif, were shown absconders in the final charge-sheet.
The four PWs, who were among the 10 injured victims, deposed that they had seen the accused opening fire on their vehicle.
The witnesses were Haroon Rasheed, Abdur Rahman, Motabar Khan and Shaukat Ali Madni. Witness Haroon Rasheed had earlier recognised the two accused during an identification parade before a judicial magistrate.
Earlier on Jan 8, the same court had declared the provincial chief of the Tehrik-i-Jafferia Pakistan and four others as proclaimed offenders in a double murder case.
ACQUITTED: The additional district and sessions judge, Central, Ahmed Nawaz Shaikh, acquitted a worker of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in a case pertaining to possession of an unlicensed weapon.
Accused Mursaleen was arrested in 1999 by the Gulbahar police, who claimed the recovery of an illicit sten-gun from him.
The Muttahida man was acquitted as the prosecution could not establish its case.
CONVICTED: The additional district and sessions judge, Central, Ghulam Qadir Leghari, sentenced a dacoit to suffer five years in jail.
The court, however, acquitted co-accused Akram, for want of incriminating evidence.
The two were arrested in 1996 by the Jauharabad police.
Meanwhile, the additional district and sessions judge, South, Muhammed Aslam Shaikh, sentenced a drug peddler to a 25-month term for possessing 13 grams heroin.