Imran Farooq murder: ATC orders medical check-up of suspects in custody

Directs officials to submit a report at the next hearing on March 24

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad anti-terrorism court on Friday ordered a medical check-up of suspects being held by authorities in connection with the murder of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Imran Farooq.

ATC judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi directed officials to ascertain the state of the health of suspects Moazzam Ali Khan, Khalid Shamim and Mohsin Ali, and submit a report at the next hearing on March 24. He gave the directions in response to a petition moved by the three suspects’ counsel Mansoor Afridi.



In addition to moving the court for a medical check-up of his clients, Afridi also filed an application for their bail after arrest in Friday’s proceedings. He contended that since the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has not produced them before the court in the last four hearings of the case, they should be released from custody immediately.

FIA officials, on the other hand, told the court that a prosecutor to argue against the bail application of one of the suspects has not been appointed so far. FIA also has yet to submit an interim charge sheet against the suspects in the case.

Talking to reports after the proceedings, the suspects’ counsel alleged that the prosecution had no evidence against his clients and is busy trying to ‘manufacture’ evidence.  Referring to his clients’ solitary confinement, Afridi also questioned how their life could be in danger in jail when former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal was under no threat despite levelling serious charges against MQM.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2016.