Attack on Express News: Police unable to trace any suspects so far

Police report recommends declaring the case ‘A’ class (untraced).

KARACHI:

Police on Saturday requested an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to keep the proceedings pertaining to the killing of three Express News employees dormant, as the three-month long investigations had failed to trace and arrest the culprits involved.

Inspector Younus Raza Jaffery, the investigation officer of the case, submitted his final report on the investigation under Section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code through the special public prosecutor.

The prosecutor, who wished not be named, told The Express Tribune that the police report has recommended declaring the case ‘A’ class (untraced) given that investigation into the incident was carried out, but the culprits could not be arrested so far.

The report said, however, that the investigation is still under way and the case would be reopened as soon as the culprits are caught. Till then, the court has been pleaded to keep the case proceedings at dormant, the prosecutor explained.

ATC Judge accepted the investigation officer’s report to keep the proceedings dormant with the directives to arrest and produce the actual culprits in the court at the earliest.

Unknown gunmen opened fire on an Express News DSNG van parked in North Nazimabad on January 17, killing driver Khalid, technician Waqar and guard Ashraf. On behalf of the state, ASI Abdul Rahim had lodged an FIR.

Sindh High Court Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar also took notice of the attack – the third attack on the media house in Karachi since August last year – and ordered the Sindh police chief to submit a compliance report at the earliest and ensure the arrest of the culprits.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2014.