The trial is being held on the premises of the Central Prison, Karachi.
When the case was called before the judge, special prosecutor, appearing for the state, submitted that the judicial magistrate (JM) South and the JM Malir could not attend the court due to some urgent official engagements.
Both the magistrates have recorded statements under section 164 of CrPC relating to the incident of June 2002.
The accused are Mohammed Imran, Mohammed Haneef, Ashraf and other alleged members of the Harkatul Mujahideen Al-Aalmi, a splinter group of the Harkatul Mujahideen.
Farooq Hayat, advocate, represented Ashraf, alleged to be finance secretary of the organization.
13 people, including men, women and children, died when a suicide bomber dashed a Suzuki pickup laden with explosives against concrete barriers outside the US consulate in Karachi. 36 persons were injured in the bomb blast.
The court also deferred an application moved by the prosecution praying to the court to summon the JM Malir who recorded confessional statements of some of the accused in this case, who are alleged to be part of the conspiracy to blow up the motorcade of President Musharraf in April 2002.
The court will hear arguments of defence counsel on this application on the next date of hearing (Feb 17).
The ATC-III, headed by judge Arshad Noor Khan, put off the hearing of a kidnapping for ransom case against Sohail Commando and co-accused to Feb 19. The adjournment came as the ATC-I was proceeding with another case.
According to the prosecution, accused Sohail, in league with co-accused Huma Bano, Adeel and Nauman, abducted Saeed in the police limits of Taimuria. The boy slipped away. On a lead given by the boy the accused were taken into custody. — APP