Shuja Khanzada assassination: Case being delayed for lack of prosecutor

Magistrate writes letter to govt for appointment of a prosecutor for special court

RAWALPINDI: A suspect believed to be involved in the attack on slain Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada is yet to indicted because the government has not appointed a prosecutor for the special court set up under the Protection of Pakistan Act (PPA), 2014.

Special judicial magistrate Shahid Hameed Chaudhary on Saturday wrote a letter to the government for the appointment of the prosecutor. The special court, established three months ago, has heard no case yet.

Chaudhary extended the judicial remand of Qasim Muawia, the suspect, till January 16. Investigation officer Muhammad Khan told the court that the police had completed investigation. He said the challan was ready and would be submitted as soon as the prosecutor is notified.

In the challan, the police have declared Qari Sohail, an absconder, mastermind of the attack while Muawia has been described as a facilitator.

Counter-terrorism department (CTD) of the Punjab Police had arrested Muawia and obtained his physical remand from the court on September 29.

Sources said ammunition, suicide vests and detonators were recovered from the suspect.

Khanzada and 19 others had been killed in a suicide blast on August 16, 2015, at his political office in Shadi Khan, near Attock.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.