ATC to hear Mureed Abbas case on August 26

Case transferred to ATC after sections of Anti-Terrorism Act were included

KARACHI: The murder case of TV anchor and his friend was transferred to the anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday. The first hearing of the case will be held on August 26 in the special ATC No1 in Karachi Central Jail. The court has directed police to present the prime accused in the case, Atif Zaman, before the court on August 26.

Investigation officer (IO) Attiqur Rehman submitted the challan before the administrative judge of ATC who approved the challan and transferred the case to ATC No1 for trial. Earlier, the sessions court had allowed that the case be presented before the administrative judge of ATC after sections of the anti-terrorism act were added to the case. Zaman's brother, Adil Zaman, is still on the run.

ATC to indict accused in Abidi murder case on next hearing

May 12 cases

Meanwhile, an ATC rejected the bail plea filed by Haq Nawaz, an accused in the six cases against Karachi mayor and others pertaining to the May 12 incidents, and sent him to prison on judicial remand.

The public prosecutor maintained that Nawaz is wanted in four cases other than those pertaining to May 12 incidents.

The court adjourned hearing till September 21.

Absent prosecutor

Another ATC expressed annoyance over the absence of the Special Public Prosecutor GM Bhutto and wrote a letter to the Sindh government and the Sindh prosecutor-general to ensure GM Bhutto's presence at the next hearing.

The court was hearing the case against Dr Asim Hussain and others, pertaining to provision of medical facilities to terrorists. Accused Dr Asim, Qadir Patel, Anis Qaimkhani, Rauf Siddiqui and Usman Muazzam appeared before the court. The mayor did not appear before the court.

Such a man has been appointed as the special public prosecutor by the Sindh government who does not even appear before the court, remarked the court while expressing annoyance at his absence. The court in its letter directed the Sindh government and the prosecutor-general to bound the special public prosecutor to appear before the court at the next hearing.

Court extends Rana Sanaullah's judical remand by fortnight

The petitioner of the case didn't appear before the court either. The counsel for Rangers, Sajid Mehboob Sheikh, filed a plea with regards to the petitioner of the case. Sheikh informed the court that Inayatullah Durrani is posted at the border now which is why he could not appear before the court.

The court asked why he hadn't come when he knows he has to record his statement. The court wrote a letter to the Rangers authorities directing them to ensure the presence of petitioner Durrani at the next hearing and adjourned till September 14.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2019.