Who will pay accused Zaman’s hospital bill, asks court
Court seeks progress report of double murder case of Mureed Abbas
The court also extended the remand of prime accused, Atif Zaman, for one more day. PHOTO: REUTERS
KARACHI:
A local court sought on Friday the progress report of the double murder of anchor case Mureed Abbas and his friend. The court also extended the remand of prime accused, Atif Zaman, for one more day.
The South judicial magistrate heard the case at city court. Counsels and the investigation officer (IO) appeared before the court.
The IO informed the court that the hospital bill of the accused was pending. The hospital administration has asked that the patient be taken back, he said.
"I should be allowed to meet my client and we will pay the bill," said advocate Munsif Jan, counsel for the accused.
"Why do you want to meet the accused?" asked the magistrate. "Pay the bill if you want to. If not, then take him to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre because who would want to pay Rs0.5 to Rs0.6 million?" The magistrate asked Zaman's counsel why he wanted to meet the accused. "Are you a doctor?"
The IO informed the court that Zaman's maternal uncle had paid Rs250,000 but no one could be contacted now. The petitioner's counsel preferred to keep the accused in a private hospital, reasoning that his life could be at risk otherwise, said the IO.
Addressing the accused's counsel, the magistrate said, "We have been asking you to submit the power of attorney since three days. You will be allowed to meet the accused only if you submit the power of attorney." He added that the counsel was not eligible to appear in court on behalf of the accused unless he submits power of attorney.
The counsel said that Zaman's father and uncle were not in contact with him.
"Then how can you appear in court?" remarked the magistrate.
The counsel prayed the court that one-day's extension be given for the payment of the hospital bill. "It is about the life of the accused."
"Make it clear if the relatives of Zaman want you to be the counsel for them," remarked the magistrate.
Advocate Munsif Jan maintained that the matter was something else. "Accused's uncle came to me, then went to the hospital and did not come back to me," he said. "His father also came to my office and then disappeared," added the advocate.
"We didn't allow meeting with the accused earlier because the accused's condition was critical," said the magistrate.
Advocate Munsif Jan said that many of the investors were praying day and night for Zaman's life so that their money could be recovered.
"Why are you saying things like this? Don't say such things when you haven't been appointed as the counsel," remarked the magistrate.
The counsel said that some people took Zaman's relatives with them and then took their mobile phones.
"We are listening to you even after the court's time is up. You are wasting time," said the magistrate.
The IO said that Zaman's condition is better now and he is out of danger. "He is able to talk now. A feeding tube has been attached but he is out of danger," he said, adding that the hospital administration has asked that the accused be taken back as the bill has not been paid. "I told the hospital administration that the accused has been kept in the hospital by the court. How can I take him?" said the IO. "The hospital administration asked what I will do if no one pays the bill," he added.
The court handed over the accused to the police for physical remand for one more day. Besides, the court accepted the IO's request to record the statement of five witnesses under Section 164 of the Pakistan Penal Code and summoned the witnesses.
Witnesses include Zaman's office staff and the investors.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2019.
A local court sought on Friday the progress report of the double murder of anchor case Mureed Abbas and his friend. The court also extended the remand of prime accused, Atif Zaman, for one more day.
The South judicial magistrate heard the case at city court. Counsels and the investigation officer (IO) appeared before the court.
The IO informed the court that the hospital bill of the accused was pending. The hospital administration has asked that the patient be taken back, he said.
"I should be allowed to meet my client and we will pay the bill," said advocate Munsif Jan, counsel for the accused.
"Why do you want to meet the accused?" asked the magistrate. "Pay the bill if you want to. If not, then take him to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre because who would want to pay Rs0.5 to Rs0.6 million?" The magistrate asked Zaman's counsel why he wanted to meet the accused. "Are you a doctor?"
The IO informed the court that Zaman's maternal uncle had paid Rs250,000 but no one could be contacted now. The petitioner's counsel preferred to keep the accused in a private hospital, reasoning that his life could be at risk otherwise, said the IO.
Addressing the accused's counsel, the magistrate said, "We have been asking you to submit the power of attorney since three days. You will be allowed to meet the accused only if you submit the power of attorney." He added that the counsel was not eligible to appear in court on behalf of the accused unless he submits power of attorney.
The counsel said that Zaman's father and uncle were not in contact with him.
"Then how can you appear in court?" remarked the magistrate.
The counsel prayed the court that one-day's extension be given for the payment of the hospital bill. "It is about the life of the accused."
"Make it clear if the relatives of Zaman want you to be the counsel for them," remarked the magistrate.
Advocate Munsif Jan maintained that the matter was something else. "Accused's uncle came to me, then went to the hospital and did not come back to me," he said. "His father also came to my office and then disappeared," added the advocate.
"We didn't allow meeting with the accused earlier because the accused's condition was critical," said the magistrate.
Advocate Munsif Jan said that many of the investors were praying day and night for Zaman's life so that their money could be recovered.
"Why are you saying things like this? Don't say such things when you haven't been appointed as the counsel," remarked the magistrate.
The counsel said that some people took Zaman's relatives with them and then took their mobile phones.
"We are listening to you even after the court's time is up. You are wasting time," said the magistrate.
The IO said that Zaman's condition is better now and he is out of danger. "He is able to talk now. A feeding tube has been attached but he is out of danger," he said, adding that the hospital administration has asked that the accused be taken back as the bill has not been paid. "I told the hospital administration that the accused has been kept in the hospital by the court. How can I take him?" said the IO. "The hospital administration asked what I will do if no one pays the bill," he added.
The court handed over the accused to the police for physical remand for one more day. Besides, the court accepted the IO's request to record the statement of five witnesses under Section 164 of the Pakistan Penal Code and summoned the witnesses.
Witnesses include Zaman's office staff and the investors.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2019.