ATC refuses to hear Imran Farooq murder case

ATC-I Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi refers the case to chief justice Islamabad High Court


Our Correspondent April 21, 2016
ATC-I Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi refers the case to chief justice Islamabad High Court. Imran Farooq. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday refused to hear the ongoing murder case of Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Imran Farooq.

The decision came following a heated debate between ATC-I Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi and the defence council, reports said. The respective judge referred the case to chief justice Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Imran Farooq murder case : ATC to announce judgement on April 12

On April 7, ATC adjourned the pronouncement of a judgment on an application seeking ‘immediate release’ of three suspects currently standing trial in the Imran Farooq murder case as the investigation authority failed to produce them before the court for the last six hearings.

ATC-I Judge Zaidi deferred the verdict till April 12. The court had reserved verdict for April 7 after the counsel for the suspects, Mansoorur Rehman Afridi, moved application for their immediate release and concluded his arguments before the court.

Meanwhile, the judicial custody remand of the suspects was extended till April 21.

Imran Farooq murder case : ATC to announce judgement on April 12

In his arguments, the counsel said that suspects, Khalid Shamim, Syed Mohsin Ali and Moazzam Ali Khan, have not been produced before the court for obtaining their remand in the case since January 8, 2016, which was a violation of Section 344 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Subsequently, he said, the suspects’ custody has now become illegal and they should immediately be released.

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