Shahzeb’s mother asks the CJP to take notice of the change in public prosecutor

She claims eyewitnesses are being pressured, asks for greater protection for them.

KARACHI: Shahzeb Khan’s parents have made it unequivocally clear that they are unhappy about the provincial government’s move to replace the special public prosecutor in their son’s murder case, saying that they will challenge the decision in the high court.

There have been quite a few twists and turns in the Shahzeb Khan murder case in which Shahrukh Jatoi, his friend Siraj Talpur, Sajjad Talpur and their servant Ghulam Mustafa Lashari, have been accused of gunning down the 20-year-old in the early hours of December 25. The latest twist came last Friday night: special public prosecutor Shahid Arain, who had been on the case since March 1 after his predecessor Abdul Maroof distanced himself from the proceedings, was suddenly replaced with Muzaffar Solangi. The move had surprised quite a few people, since the case has now entered a decisive stage. The following day during the hearing of the case at an Anti Terrorism Court, the lawyers of Shahzeb’s family asked the judge to adjourn the hearing as they would go to the Sindh High Court over the change in the public prosecutor, especially since he has overseen the testimonies of nine eyewitnesses. The judge then adjourned the hearing till March 18.

Speaking at a news conference organised on Sunday at the press club, Shahzeb’s mother Ambreen Aurangzeb said that she and the rest of the family were satisfied with Arain’s performance and didn’t like the change. “Solangi belongs to Shahrukh Jatoi’s village and he is one of their own man. Everyone is a witness to the provincial government’s involvement in the case from day one,” she said. “Shahrukh’s family is trying to delay a decision on the case and the replacement of the public prosecutor is just one of their tactics.” If convicted, the four accused men face a minimum punishment of life imprisonment or even death, say the lawyers representing Shahzeb’s family.



Ambreen claimed that the eyewitnesses had been pressured through a number of ways even though they have been provided physical protection. She made an appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of the transfer of the public prosecutor and increase security of eyewitnesses connected with the case. Shahzeb’s father DSP Aurangzeb Khan alleged that officials from within the police department have attempted to pressure him into retracting the case, threatening to transfer him. “I don’t care about any transfers. I have always been transferred on merit, but I will continue my struggle in my son’s case,” Khan added. “Nobody can bring back my son. I will continue to fight for justice so that we can save other Shahzebs.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2013.