Rohale Asghar case: Judge on Hajj, hearing adjourned till next month

PML-N lawmaker facing charge of killing a man through rash driving

ISLAMABAD: Hearing into a hit-and-run case against National Assembly Member (MNA) Sheikh Rohale Asghar and his driver was adjourned till October 18 on Saturday, as the judge has gone for Hajj.

Kohsar police had booked Asghar for allegedly killing Raz Muhammad, a security guard for a private firm, while he was walking on a footpath in Blue Area. Police had booked Asghar for ‘murder by mistake by rash and negligent driving’.

The incident took place on August 10, 2015, but the case was registered on February 20 this year after the victim’s wife moved the court.

Shaheen Bibi, the victim’s wife, maintained in the FIR that her husband was walking on a footpath when he was hit by a car GAA-124. He was rushed to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences but could not survive. She said the car was being driven by the MNA, who she said was apparently intoxicated at the time. She said the victim was the sole breadwinner of the family.

At last hearing on July 17, the court was due to formally charge the MNA with the crime but both the parties sought time to reach an out-of-court settlement.

Asghar has also told the court that his driver, Zulfiqar Bhatti, was driving the car and that he was not even in the car at the time of the incident.

Asghar has also submitted an application under Section 540-A of CrPC seeking exemption from appearing before the court in person. Judicial Magistrate Humayun Dilawar will take up the case on October 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2016.