RAWALPINDI, Feb 25: Legal heirs of five persons killed in a drag car race last year on Friday exonerated son of Malik Riaz, property tycoon, and two employees of Bahria Town of murder charge, telling the court they have forgiven them.

“We do not consider that Ahmed Ali Riaz, Waleed Aman, and Colonel (retired) Rafaqat Mehmood as accused or responsible in the case. We have forgiven them in the name of Allah. We have no objection if the men are acquitted from this case,” said the statement heirs submitted in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Chaudhry Aurangzeb. Ali Riaz is the son of Malik Riaz. Aman is marketing manager and Col Mehmood is the chief security officer of Bahria Town.

The heirs, however, did not forgive Majid Naeem, the driver of the car that overturned and hit the spectators in Phase-VIII of Bahria Town on December 5 last year, and Adil and Sheikh Atif, the organisers of the race, which was held without the district administration's approval. Mohsin Javaid, Babar Ali and his son Asfandyar, and Sohail Khan and his son Danial Khan were killed when car hit the spectators.

Rawat police registered criminal case for intentional murder, attempted murder and negligent driving against the organisers of the event after the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the tragic incident.

Except for Ali Riaz and Sheikh Atif, who has allegedly left the country, all other accused in the case have been arrested. The court deferred the case till March 2.

On Saturday, the court will take up the bail plea of Col Rafaqat. Earlier the bail applications of Aman and Naeem were dismissed.