PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC-II) accepted on Saturday a plea filed by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the accounts of the Khidmat-e-Khalq Foundation (KKF), a charity wing of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). The FIA had filed a request seeking court's permission to scrutinise eight different bank accounts of the KKF.
While hearing the case of illegal transfer of money to MQM-London through KKF network, the court, however, issued notices for April 29, to the parties on another plea of the FIA regarding the attachment of the KKF properties with the case.
The ATC deferred the decision on the bail plea of former Senator Ahmed Ali. Former senator could not appear before the court and his lawyer said that his client was sick and requested the court to announce a decision on his bail plea.
The judge remarked that court won't give any decision in absence of accused. "It is likely that accused needs to be taken into custody. If we have to work like this then verdicts on Wasim Akhtar and Dr Asim's plea could've been announced the same way," said the judge. Court deferred the verdict on bail plea till April 29.
May 12 cases
At least 13 cases relating to May 12 violence were on Saturday transferred from ATC-II in Clifton to ATC-VII in Karachi Central Jail. The provincial home department had earlier notified the transfer of these cases to ATC in jail in view of sensitive nature of the cases and the security risk involved in the movement of accused from jail to the court in Clifton. The administrative of judge of the ATCs in Sindh High Court (SHC) had on April 16 approved the transfer of these cases.
The judge of the ATC-II, while adjourning the hearing till May 4, informed the accused, who included Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar and 20 others, that their cases were being transferred and directed them to appear before ATC-VII in Jail on the next hearing.
The home department notification had maintained that cases were transferred due to high-profile accused, Umair Siddiqui. According to the notification Umair Siddiqui is nominated in 10 cases registered at Airport police station, two at Bahadurabad police station and one at Ferozabad police station. Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar and 20 others were nominated in seven cases relating to May 12 incidents. They all are on bail while Umair Siddiqui is in jail.
In 12 other cases of May 12 Umair Siddiqui, Mirza Naseeb Baig alias Rizwan Chapati and Raees Mama are nominated.
Baldia factory case
A special anti-terrorism court on Saturday recorded the statement of DIG Nasir Aftab in Baldia factory incident and sought further witnesses on the next hearing.
The jail officials presented the accused Zubair alias Charya and Rehman alias Bhola. Investigation officer, Inspector Jehanzeb, appeared before the court.
The special public prosecutor Sajid Mehboob Sheikh presented two witnesses, DIG Nasir Aftab and Ali Anwer who is the chief engineer boiler. Both the witnesses recorded their statements.
DIG Nasir Aftab said that he conducted the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of MQM's Rizwan Qureshi who is the prime suspect in the case in which he mentioned about the Baldia factory incident. Rizwan said that Rehman alias Bhola demanded 200 million rupees as extortion from the Ali Enterprises. The factory was set on fire due to the non-payment of extortion money. "I attached a note with the JIT and sent it to high authorities," the DIG said.
The chief engineer of boiler department in industries department, Anwar Ali said in his statement that "I got to know through the media anout the boiler burst in the factory. But when I visited the factory no such thing happened there."
The counsels for the accused completed the cross-examination over the statements given by the witnesses. The court adjourned the hearing till April 24 and sought further witnesses.
MQM man released
An anti-terrorism court on Saturday ordered the release of Qazi Imran Ali alias Bacha of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) who was accused of killing a police officer. Rangers prosecutor failed to establish his case against the accused and court announcing the verdict ordered the release of Ali. According to police, accused killed ASI Tahir in 2006 within the limits of Brigade police station. Prosecution claimed that he carried out the killing on the orders of MQM's fugitive worker Asif. Case against accused was filed at Brigade station
Hate speech cases
Another anti-terrorism court adjourned the hearing of 23 cases of hate speech due to absence of lawyers of accused till May 18. ATC-I was hearing the 23 cases of facilitating the inciting speech of MQM founder. Dr Farooq Sattar, Amir Khan, Rauf Siddiqui, Wasim Akhtar, Qamar Mansoors, Rehan Hashmi, Mehmood Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Pasha including others appeared before the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2019.
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