Court rules against transfer of murder accused to govt hospital

Summons witnesses to record their statements

KARACHI: A local court stopped the transfer of Atif Zaman, accused in the dual murder case of anchor Mureed Abbas and his friend, from a private hospital to a government hospital.

The investigation officer informed the South judicial magistrate at Karachi city court about the decision to shift the accused to a government hospital. The court put a stop to the transfer and remarked that action would be taken against the police and the hospital administration if Zaman was shifted from the private hospital to any other place. The court also summoned key witnesses of the case to record their statements on today (Friday). The court said that the statement of the eye-witness would be recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The accused's counsel, Munsif Jan, approached the court to gain permission to meet his client. The court remarked that Jan should first submit the power of attorney in the court after which he would be allowed to pursue the case.

The court remarked that they believed that better medical treatment is being provided to the accused in the private hospital but added that there should be someone to pay the bill for his treatment.

Jan said that many people were willing to pay the bill but the police were not allowing them to meet Zaman.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2019.