CJP even takes notice of buffaloes but not us, suspect's wife tells ATC

Wife of suspect in Imran Farooq murder case warns of self immolation if case further delayed

ISLAMABAD: The wife of one of the suspects standing trial in the Imran Farooq murder case said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has taken notice over conditions of buffaloes but not of her husband’s case which is pending before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) for the last two-and-a-half years.

“Buffalos are more fortunate than us as the chief justice of Pakistan is even taking notice over injections used to induce buffaloes to produce more milk but not of our case,” suspect Moazzam Ali’s wife Sadia said.



Sadia said that she would immolate herself if the case is further delayed for one reason or another. “This trial has disturbed our whole life,” she said.

“Hang my husband and end this misery,” Sadia urged ATC Judge Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi saying the case has pulverised her, her eight children and the rest of the family.

The wife of another suspect Khalid Shamim, Beena Khalid, reacted to Sadia’s statement saying her husband should not be hanged on the basis of such a statement. “He is innocent,” she claimed, adding that suspects as well as their families were humans and trial should not be delayed any further.

Beena said that she has not received her husband's salary for the last seven years and two months and it was an uphill task to attend hearings and meet her husband in jail while looking after the family.

“Remove your coat [gown] and put yourself in our shoes for a moment,” Beena said, adding that only she knew how she was managing everything for the last seven years.

Sadia complained that the prosecution was not taking the case seriously, adding that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) appointed the prosecutor only after she petitioned the Islamabad High Court in this regard.

The judge while realising women’s agony allowed them to speak as much as they wanted except criticising the CJP. “I can understand your feelings but several appeals have also prolonged the case,” Judge Zaidi said. He, however, assured the women that the court would try its best to decide the case within two months.

Meanwhile, the FIA prosecutor Khawaja Imtiaz informed the court that the proclamation advertisement for Altaf Hussain has been published in the international papers and the period to surrender before the court would end on March 9. He then requested the court to adjourn the matter.

“Submit the [supplementary] charge sheet for God’s sake,” Sadia incorporated.

Judge Zaidi directed the FIA prosecutor to submit the supplementary charge sheet on March 14, saying the court would indict the suspects on the same date. The court further directed FIA to come prepared on the next hearing so that the formalities pertaining to trial in absence of the accused could also be completed.

Two suspects, Shamim and Syed Mohsin Ali, have already recorded their confessional statements before the magistrate alleging that the slain MQM leader was killed as he was a “potent threat to the leadership of MQM.”

A third suspect, Moazzam Ali, has not yet recorded a confessional statement in the case.



Shamim confessed that Farooq’s murder was a "birthday gift" for the Altaf Hussain while Syed’s statement revealed that he took part in the crime because he was promised a position in the London Secretariat of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

On December 5, 2015, the FIA had registered a case against MQM chief Altaf Hussain and other party leaders for their alleged involvement in the 2010 murder of Dr Imran Farooq.

Farooq was stabbed and bludgeoned to death near his apartment in Green Lane, Edgware, in September 2010.