Pakistan

Extrajudicial killing: Deadline expires, court assigns lawyer to accused

Retired Session Judge Abdul Mateen to represent the Rangers' official side, indictment expected on June 28.

Express June 24, 2011

KARACHI: A Karachi Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday assigned Retired Session Judge Abdul Mateen to represent the Rangers' officials side in the case of the murder of Sarfaraz Shah.

The hearings of the case had been repeatedly delayed on the the request of the accused who had asked for more time to arrange for lawyers. On Thursday, the court gave them a one-day deadline to arrange for lawyers, adding that the court would assign a lawyer itself if they failed to find any.

The seven accused in Sarfaraz Shah’s murder case, including six rangers and one civilian, were brought to the special court A in front of the Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso in Karachi . The Rangers told Justice Bashir Ahmed that they have failed to hire a lawyer to represent their case. On this, Justice Bashir Ahmed assigned Retired Session Judge Abdul Mateen to represent the rangers side.

Justice Ahmed then postponed the hearing till June 28 on which the court is expected to charge all of the accused in the case of extrajudicial killing.

Earlier, during Wednesday’s proceedings, copy of the Sarfaraz Shah murder case was filed in court. The accused were also given copies of the case, including statements made by the prosecution witnesses, during the proceedings on Wednesday. Inspector Bahaur Rahman, who is the most senior among the six accused, had asked the judge for an adjournment saying that their families were out of time and they needed time to engage lawyers. The judge had at first refused giving an adjournment saying that the Supreme Court had ordered a day-to-day trial.

The Anti-Terrorism Court started the proceedings in the Sarfaraz Shah murder case on Tuesday after receiving the case files from the registrar.

Members of Pakistan’s Rangers paramilitary shot dead Sarfaraz Shah, 22, in Karachi on June 8 after he was accused of robbery, but his family has demanded justice, insisting he was an innocent student.

The daylight murder was filmed live by a local cameraman and subsequently broadcast round the clock on national television channels, the brutality of trained security officers in uniform shocking the country.

COMMENTS (6)

Azeez | 13 years ago | Reply @Balma: next time when u cheat the government, u should also be killed by the rangers. u should not be tried in the court. it should be similar to sarafaraz shah extra judicial killing.

Momal Akbar | 13 years ago | Reply As for Sarfraz Shah may Allah grant him high standard IN Jannah Ameen, I too have lost my mother recently Due to Murder and the Police won't do anything about it , I know I want Them to all suffer, I feel so sad for Sarfrazes mother,,

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naeem khan | 13 years ago | Reply @Baima, Did anyone saw him stealing or robbing anyone, and above all there is no death sentence in Pakistan for stealing or robbing otherwise the whole National Assembly,the President,PM, Law Minister and that thug Malik will be lined up for execution.It is the powerless and every day small time thieves who are paying the price.

ijaz Mir | 13 years ago | Reply Daily bomb blast,target killing,Hold up on the traffic light,Parks and in the houses is common in Pakistan.If they are arrested,courts let them go due to poor case presented by the police or corruption in the system. Prime Minister is busy making new provinces,Altaf bhai busy making U tube,Sharif brothers have their own agenda, Imran Khan busy blocking American supplies to Afghanistan,Army is busy to mend their dented image. There is no electric city,no drinking water. no price control. every one is on his own.Who is running the country. Media Build news, political parties scoring points. From now on carry a gun because no one police or Rangers will help you? This robber rangers Killed was not shot to Kill. He was shot in the leg and arm. In Charge of the party should be charged for negligence for not getting ambulance. All these thieves does not deserve any sympathy.

M. A. Changezi | 13 years ago | Reply I would be very glad to see them rot behind the bars. Sarfaraz, regardless of what he was, didn't deserve that. The brave Sindh rangers and onlookers didn't even bother to get him medical help despite his repeated pleadings. Unfortunately in our country only the lowest of the low get to call the shots. If things continue in this direction, we Pakistanis are in for big surprises.

Balma | 13 years ago | Reply So from now on, when someone knocks at your window and demands your mobile phone and wallet while your car is waiting at the red light (i.e. if you decided to follow traffic law in Karachi), and rangers are watching this - I would recommend to rangers to hold their breath and enjoy the show! Why? Because, I don't think that the chore's family will ever admit that he was robbing people, after all the chore is someone's laal, someone's dil ka TukRaa, aankho'n kee ThunDuk...blah, blah, blah.... Typical of Pakistanis and other desis: if rangers do their job, they are in trouble, if they don't do their job, they are in trouble.....

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