ATC records witness’ statement in Akbar Kumaili case

‘Empty bullet shells match weapons seized from accused’s possession’

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) recorded the statement of witness Inspector Mohsin Zaidi, during the hearing of Allama Abbas Kumaili’s son, Akbar Kumaili’s murder case on Thursday. Cross-questioning over Zaidi’s statements was also completed during the course of the hearing.

Jail officials presented the accused, Nasir Qadir alias Nasir Dhobi, who is a member of a banned outfit, before the court at Karachi Central Jail, where the hearing was held.

Giving his statement, Zaidi said that empty bullet shells, collected from the crime scene, match the weapons seized from the accused’s possession, adding that the forensic report also corroborates this finding. He said that Qadir shot and killed Akbar in Bhingoria Goth and has been identified by two witnesses.

Counsel for Qadir completed cross-questioning over Zaidi’s statement at the hearing, while Qadir’s statement will be recorded at the next hearing, scheduled to take place on November 11.

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According to police, Akbar was murdered by Qadir in an incident of target killing, in 2014, in Bhingoria Goth. The case against the accused was registered at Azizabad Police Station, the police said.

Hearing adjourned

Meanwhile, the hearing of a case registered against the murder of two workers of Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) was adjourned without any progress, as ATC no.12, to which the case was transferred from ATC no.14, hadn’t received the case files till the time of the hearing. The hearing was held at Karachi Central Jail.

In the absence of case files, the court adjourned the hearing till November 13.

Previously, the court had issued warrants of seven of the accused in the dual murder case, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder. According to police, the seven accused, including MQM-London’s (MQM-L) Asif Hasnain alias Pasha and Bisma Naz, are on the run, who will be declared absconders at the next hearing.

Apart from those on the run, nine others have been arrested for being involved in the murder of PSP workers. They include Raza Ali alias Soldier, Qazi Anis alias Captain, Waqas Sheharyar alias Sherry and Mohsin Ahmed alias Shah Jee.

Police said that the investigation officer (IO) has submitted the case challan to the court and copies of the case have also been sent to the accused.

PSP Town General Secretary Naeem and Union Council In-Charge Azhar alias Saiyan were killed after the accused attacked the party’s town office, in the jurisdiction of Rizvia Police Station, on December 23, 2018. Besides Naeem and Azhar, two other party workers were injured in the incident.

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The arrested accused have revealed during investigation that the attack was perpetrated on the orders of the MQM founder and was facilitated by MQM-L’s network in South Africa.

The case against the attackers was registered at Rizvia Police Station.

Witnesses summoned

Meanwhile, ATC no.16 summoned more witnesses in the Sehwan blast case as cross-questioning over the statements of four of the witnesses was completed.

Jail officials presented accused Nadir Ali and Furqan alias Farooq before the court and witnesses, including Hyderabad bomb disposal squad in-charge, two police officials and a CCTV camera operator, gave their statements at the hearing held at Karachi Central Jail.

The bomb disposal squad in-charge said in his statement that he had found ball bearings that were used in the blast. Giving details of the incident, police officials informed the court that they were on patrol duty when the blast occurred and reached the shrine after they heard the explosion. It was a gruesome sight, they said. The CCTV camera operator apprised the court that he has handed over the CCTV footage of the blast to the police.

Counsels for the accused completed cross-questioning over the witnesses’ statements.

Ordering that more witnesses be presented at the next hearing, the court adjourned the hearing till November 11.

According to police, 82 people were killed and 383 were injured in the suicide blast at Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s shrine in Sehwan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1^st, 2019.