ATC acquits three accused, including MQM sector in-charge

Defence lawyers argue the case was filed for political revenge

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday announced its verdict and acquitted three accused, including an MQM sector in-charge, in a case pertaining to the murder of two persons.

The accused included Fahad Afridi, Tahir Rasool and Zeeshan. The lawyer for Afridi, Advocate Abid Zaman, argued that the case was filed due to his client's association with a political party and that there was no concrete evidence against him. The counsels of other accused argued that their clients had also been targeted for political revenge.

The court recorded statements of 10 witnesses.

According to the police, the accused killed two persons, Ishaq and Imran, in May 2013. The case against the accused was registered at Model Colony Police Station.



Amal Umer killing case
An ATC adjourned the hearing of the Amal Umer killing case till January 19 as the judge was on a leave.
Jail officials produced the accused, Khalid, before the court.

Khalid was arrested during an encounter. His accomplice was shot dead in the incident. Two cases are filed against Khalid. According to the police, the accused confessed to seven more robberies that he had carried out in a rickshaw.

The case of Umer's murder was filed against two police officials who have acquired protective bail.

Town nazim murder

An ATC issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of nine suspects absconding in the case pertaining to the murder of former Liaquatabad nazim Dr Pervaiz Mehmood of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

Jail officials produced an accused, Masood Ali alias Kala, allegedly associated with the militant wing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), before the court.

The court issued non-bailable warrants for the arrest of the absconding accused, including Imran Aijaz Niazi, Tahir Qadiyani, Zubair alias Pappa, Abdur Rehman Qureshi, Joint Sector Incharge Rehan, Asif Alto, Faizan Ilyas, Sameer Nayi, and Shakeel Mota, allegedly members of a target killing squad. The court also ordered the investigation officer (IO) to submit a report regarding the accused and adjourned the hearing till January 16.

According to the police, Ali was also a member of the target killing squad and has confessed to murdering Dr Mehmood during interrogation. Ali also revealed that the attack on the nazim was carried out on the suggestion of the then chief of MQM organisation committee, Hammad Siddiqui.

Ali was arrested from Nazimabad on November 30 and explosives material and weapons were seized from his possession.
The former nazim was gunned down along with his friend near the KDA chowrangi in North Nazimabad on September 17, 2012.