MQM-H chief case: State to clarify charges against Afaq by July 11

Deputy prosecutor general has been asked to make a clear statement by July 11.

KARACHI:

The deputy prosecutor general in the case against Mohajir Qaumi Movement’s (MQM-H) Afaq Ahmed has been asked to make a clear statement by July 11.

A Sindh High Court (SHC) bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Athar Saeed and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, gave the prosecution one last chance to clarify the position of the cases against the MQM-H chief while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Afaq, who has been incarcerated since April 2004.

Afaq sought details of any new cases against him and requested bail as the police have failed to collect any evidence against him in the past eight years.

When the petition came up for hearing on Thursday, the state’s lawyer, deputy prosecutor general Shahid Khan, sought another adjournment. Afaq’s lawyer, Muhammad Farooq, objected and said that his client was being detained only because he was nominated in FIRs.

“The police officials themselves have conceded that they have no evidence against the accused,” said Farooq.

“They have submitted charge sheets that shift the burden of his release ... on to the courts.” After some questions, the DPG was directed to either come prepared or to ask the Sindh prosecutor general to appear in court to clear the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2011.