ATC issues arrest warrants of petitioners, witnesses in hate-speech case

IO tells court most of the witnesses have been transferred and they are trying to reach them

KARACHI: A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued the arrest warrants of 21 petitioners and more than 45 witnesses in the 26 cases pertaining to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder's hate speech.

Farooq Sattar, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Rauf Siddiqui, Rehan Hashmi, Amjadullah, Qamar Mansoor and others appeared before the court. The court expressed annoyance over not producing the witnesses of 21 cases and inquired the role of investigation officer in this. The investigation officer said that most of the witnesses had been transferred and they were trying to be reached.

Defence counsel Irshad Bandhani said that Wasim Akhtar was ill because of which he couldn't appear in court while Amir Khan had gone to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. The court adjourned the hearing of all cases till February 16. Statements of the witnesses will be recorded on the next hearing.



In an informal conversation after the hearing, Rauf Siddiqui declared the statement of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Asif Saeed Khosa about lessening the burden of 1,900,000 cases as 'a good luck charm'. Siddiqui said that he welcomed CJP's statement about taking action against false cases and fake witnesses.

"That would be the best day in the history of Pakistan when this happens." He also said that we should have the ability to keep patience when we reserve ourselves for the service of public. "People are using unethical and shameless language in the politics. The respectable people now avoid joining politics." Siddiqui said that the court was the last hope for the poor people, hence, the number of judges should be increased. The court should conduct proceedings two times a day.

May 12 cases

A special ATC adjourned the hearing for amended indictment in four cases pertaining to May 12 incidents due to the absence of Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar. More than 20 accused appeared in the court.

The court expressed annoyance over the absence of Akhtar. Advocate Irshad Bandhani filed the plea on behalf of the mayor saying that he was unwell and couldn't appear in court. Court inquired about his health and asked for the medical report. The amended indictment couldn't be issued due to the absence of Akhtar. The court adjourned the hearing till February 3.



Meanwhile, the ATC ordered to produce Mirza Naseeb Baig alias Rizwan Chapati in three cases of explosives and weapons and ten cases pertaining to the incident of May 12. The jail officials failed to produce Baig in court and presented a report mentioning that the accused couldn't be presented due to security concerns. The court summoned Baig on next hearing and adjourned the court till January 28. Cases against Baig are registered in the police stations of Civil Lines, Nabi Bakhsh Colony, Airport, Ferozabad and Bahadurabad.

Abidi murder case

A special ATC ordered to hand over MQM leader Ali Raza Abidi's car to his father Ikhlaq Hussain. The petition, filed by Hussain, said that the car was taken through the bank and there was a risk that its condition would worsen if it stayed with the police. The investigation officer of Gizri Police Station appeared before the court. The investigation officer presented the complete record of the case over court's orders. The court announced the verdict of handing over the car to Abidi's father. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2019.