PESHAWAR, May 16: An anti-terrorism court here on Wednesday indicted four activists of the defunct religious group, Sipah-i- Sahaba-i-Pakistan (SSP) on charges of killing Farooq Haider, an Additional Inspector General of traffic police.

The accused, Mumtaz, Hayat Khan, Ijaz Hussain and Saeedullah, pleaded not guilty and decided to stand trial.

The court presided over by Akhter Zareef Khan, fixed May 23 for next hearing. The court has also been conducting trial of the accused charged with the murder of the secretary-general of Tehrik-i-Jaferia Pakistan, Anwer Ali Akhundzada.

Farooq Haider was killed two years ago as he stepped out of his house in the Dabgari police station jurisdiction. The murderers were arrested later on, but were allowed bail by a local court.

Verdict reserved: The ATC here on Wednesday reserved its judgment in the famous case of the murder of dental surgeon Jawed Iqbal.

The defence counsel, Asadullah Chamkani, and special prosecutor, Sher Muhammad, completed their arguments on Wednesday. The defendant Waqarul Mulq was arrested last year after the murder of Dr Jawed Iqbal.

The prosecution claimed that they had recovered the vehicle of the deceased-doctor from the possession of the accused, and on his pointation they had recovered the cellular phone of the deceased as well.

The defence counsel contended that the defendant was falsely implicated in the case and the entire evidence of the prosecution went in his favour. He added that there was no evidence on record which could establish that the seized vehicle belonged to Dr Jawed Iqbal.

Case referred: The provincial government has referred the murder case of station house officer of Badabher police station, Bukhtiar Khan, to the ATC.