PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday issued an amendment indictment against Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar and other accused in the May 12, 2007 carnage case.
Akhtar and others appeared before the court. An amended charge-sheet was presented by police framing new charges against the accused. Akhtar, Umair Siddiqui and other accused denied charges and pleaded innocence.
The court also indicted absconding persons in the case including Abdul Zahid and issued non-bailable arrest warrants of 17 other accused in the case. Zahid had already filed a bail plea before ATC. His lawyer had also furnished arguments to seek release of his client.
The court also sought an updated report regarding the arrest of proclaimed offenders and adjourned hearing till March 2.
SHC orders formation of JIT to probe May 12 carnage
At the previous hearing on January 19, ATC had expressed displeasure over Akhtar's failure to appear before the court in four cases pertaining to May 12, 2007 violent incidents.
On May 12, 2007 at least 50 people were killed and over 100 wounded in attacks on rallies of different political parties and the legal fraternity, who had attempted to receive the then deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at Karachi airport ahead of a lawyers' gathering. The former CJP Chaudhry was forced to fly back to Islamabad after nine hours of being restricted to the airport.
TLP men remanded
The administrative judge of the ATCs sent on Saturday 39 members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on judicial remand. The 39 accused were presented before the court where they kept reciting naats throughout the hearing.
They were presented before the court by New Town and Artillery Ground police. According to the police, the accused were charged with cases of vandalism, spreading terror and damaging a police vehicle while attacking it.
Names of the 39 TLP members were called out to mark their presence in court and the accused responded to each call with 'Labaik'. The court sent the accused on judicial remand and sought a case chalan from the investigation officer in fourteen days.
Hate speech
A special ATC sought on Saturday the petitioner and complainant in two cases pertaining to hate speech.
Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Khawaja Izharul Hassan appeared before the court while Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar and MQM-P Senior Deputy Convenor Aamir Khan had filed a plea for exemption from the court which was accepted by the court.
Who ordered the May 12 carnage, SHC demands to know
The court directed the investigation officer (IO) to present the petitioner and complainant of the cases on the next hearing. According to the police, the cases were filed on behalf of Gul Khan and Hashim Khan.
Court adjourned hearing till March 2 and sought a detailed report after investigation.
*With additional input from PPI
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2019.
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