Murder case: TV anchor, co-accused granted bail

Diyat settlement likely to be formalised on Friday.

LAHORE:

Additional District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hasnaat Zulqarnain on Wednesday granted bail to a TV anchor and two co-accused in a murder case after the family of the deceased agreed to a Rs2 million diyat settlement.

Rehman Azhar, a TV news reader; Zeeshan, head of planning for the same TV channel; and Zaigham Abbas were arrested on May 8 after the Defence-A police registered an FIR against them under Section 302s and 304 of the Pakistan Penal Code for allegedly killing Safdar, a father of nine.

A cheque for Rs2 million was handed over on Wednesday on their behalf to a third party to be handed over to the bereaved family. It is likely to be handed over to the heirs of the deceased on May 27, The Express Tribune has learnt. Both parties reached a compromise on Tuesday, a day after the accused were sent on a judicial remand to the jail.

The accused, had however, managed to get bails on the same day and were released after spending a night in prison. Sub Inspector Tufail, the investigation officer, confirmed that there was a settlement. He was, however, not sure of the final amount of diyat, he added.

According to the FIR, the accused travelling in two cars, had stopped a family in Defence on May 8, and had misbehaved with them. They had clubbed the family’s employee, Safdar, and prevented them from taking him to a hospital. The family later managed to take the injured to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2011.