KARACHI, March 19: An anti-terrorism court reserved on Saturday judgment in a sectarian murder case against two activists of the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. Judge Feroze Mehmood Bhatti of the ATC-2, who conducted the trial inside the Central Prison, fixed March 30 for the pronouncement of judgement after he heard final arguments from the prosecution and defence attorneys.
Abdul Wahab Afghani and Shahnawaz alias Shani have been prosecuted for killing Mohammad Baqar and Ghulam Hussain, owners of Subhanullah Bakery, in Arambagh on Feb 27, 2003. One of their alleged accomplices, Shoukat Ali, was declared absconder in the case. Defence counsel — M R Syed and Mohammad Ashraf Mughal — prayed the court to acquit their respective clients as statements of witnesses did not corroborate the prosecution case.
Special Public Prosecutor Maula Bux Bhatti, however, prayed the court to award maximum punishment to the accused as prosecution proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt.
Earlier, the accused were convicted by the same court on charge of causing a bomb blast in a parking area near the PSO House on Feb 3, 2003.
BLAST CASE: Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch of the ATC-5 put off hearing of a petrol pomp blast case against two workers of the banned Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi after recording statements of a prosecution witness.
The judge fixed March 21 for the next hearing after a statement by Mohammed Rafiq. The PW, who was shown an eye-witness by the prosecution, however did not identify the two accused.
Mohammad Atif and Mehmoodullah are being prosecuted for causing a blast at a etrol pump situated at Business Recorder road in the limits of Jamshed Quarters police station on May 15, 2003.
Meanwhile, the same court put off hearing of trial against same accused in another blast case at same locality after recording statement of eyewitness Mohammad Sajjad Khan, who identified the accused. The witness was cross-examined by the defence counsel.
Blasphemy case: Justice Amir Hani Muslim of the Sindh High Court, who is also administrative judge of the Anti-Terrorism Courts in Karachi, on Saturday assigned a blasphemy case against one Mohammad Yonuus Sheikh to the ATC-III for examining the question about the jurisdiction of the court.