Naqeebullah murder: SHC reviews request for case transfer

PTI MPA Saifur Rehman and Jibran Nasir pledge support for victim's father

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) while hearing the request for the transfer of Naqeebullah murder case on Monday ruled that copies of the application be provided to the counsels for the suspects. A two-member bench on Monday heard the application filed by Naqeebullah's father, Muhammad Khan, which was attended by case investigation officer (IO) and suspects, including Rao Anwar.

The defence counsel requested the court to provide them with a copy of the application. The court granted the request and adjourned the hearing until October 29.

The victim's father in his application maintained that ATC number 2 had dealt the case with prejudice and discrimination. The court, the petition stated, gave extraordinary relief to the suspects and granted them bail despite the objections raised by the prosecution.

After the hearing, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Saifur Rehman and social activist Jibran Nasir spoke to media and said that law enforcers had stopped their operations against the so-called terrorists after the Naqeebullah case was highlighted.

"The law enforcement institutions should answer why action against terrorists has stopped," said Nasir, adding that the army chief and the prime minister had assured the Naqeebullah family of justice. Nasir also questioned how Anwar was considered safe in Malir Cantt and not in jail. He added that the security institutions should answer why Anwar was allowed to even leave Malir Cantt sub-jail.

Fresh trial

A two-member SHC bench on Monday ordered the anti-terrorism court (ATC) to carry out a fresh trial against suspects booked in the murder of a Sunni Tehreek worker. The court allowed the appeals filed by the suspects belonging to Sipah-e-Sahaba and set aside their sentences.

According to prosecution, an ATC court had awarded the death sentence to convict Rasheed aka Zahid while Zeeshan was given five-years imprisonment. The convicts, in 2014, had shot down Sunni Tehreek worker, Usman, in New Karachi Industrial Area. The SHC observed that the arguments detailed by the ATC were not substantial to justify the verdict.

Rigging allegations

The Election Tribunal in SHC issued notices to Election Commission of Pakistan, PTI MNA Amir Liaquat Hussain and others for October 19 in reference to a petition regarding alleged rigging in NA-245 by MQM-P's leader, Farooq Sattar.

Sattar's lawyer removed official objections in the petition after which the Election Tribunal issued notices to the respondents. The office had objected over unverified documents and names of witnesses. Sattar attached hundreds of pages to support allegations of irregularities. According to the petition, there were undeniable proofs of irregularities in NA-245. A total of 22,000 ballot papers were missing from NA-245 alone and polling agents were expelled. Furthermore, no polling agent had received Form 45.

It was requested in the petition that Amir Liaquat's victory notification should be suspended till the verdict of the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2018.