HYDERABAD, Sept 18: The judge of the Anti-Terrorism Court, Hyderabad, Syed Ali Ashraf Shah, on Wednesday acquitted five accused, including two absconding, in the Sub-Inspector Akhtar Zaidi murder case.

Those acquitted were Javed Samoon, Sub-Inspector Qamar Zaman, Irfan Rind, Rajab Sehto and Pir Mansoor.

The prosecution witnesses, who deposed before the court, included the complainant, two motorcycle dealers, a magistrate and two sub-inspectors.

Defence counsels Abdul Sattar Kazi and Naseeruddin Abro pointed out several contradictions in the case with regard to recovery of empties and non-availability of forensic examiner’s report after ballistic examination of weapons.

Advocate Abro, who represented Assistant Sub-Inspector Samoon, argued the identification parade of the accused was not proper and all the witnesses belonged to the police department.

The accused recorded their statements on Monday and pleaded not guilty.

They said they were falsely implicated in the case by the complainant.

Sub-Inspector Zaidi and Assistant Sub-Inspector Shoaib Soomro were ambushed on March 22, 2000, in the limits of the Qasimabad police station.