ATC orders IO to produce five witnesses in Naqeebullah murder case

Naqeebullah murder case witness records statement; lawyer says it is based on lies

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court ordered on Thursday the investigation officer (IO) for the Naqeebullah murder case to produce five witnesses at the next hearing.

The accused, including former Malir SSP Rao Anwar and DSP Qamar, appeared during the hearing at the Karachi Central Jail, while witness Taj Muhammad was produced by the prosecution.

The witness stated that Saifur Rehman, now an MNA, had come to Ali Town, saying that Naqeebullah and his accomplices had been picked up by the police. He added that he and other people went to the Abbas Town checkpost, where Rehman asked the police if the three men had been picked up. According to Muhammad, Rehman was told they had not been picked up by the checkpost officials and instead, Anwar had shifted them elsewhere.

Muhammad further said it was discovered later that Naqeebullah had been killed, and his body was received by his cousin.

The defence lawyer questioned him, asking if the statements he had given to the police and the court were the same. He replied that he had made the same statement. Muhammad was then asked if he had requested Naqeebullah's detention, to which he answered in the negative, adding that no one, including him, had filed a complaint in this regard.

He also told the defence lawyer that Naqeebullah had a Watan card and that he was the son of the plaintiff, Muhammad Khan.

Concluding the cross-examination, the counsel said the witness' statement was based on a lie.

The court further told Muhammad to identify Akbar Town checkpost in-charge Akbar Mallah, which he did. Mallah, however, said Muhammad knew him prior to the incident.

The prosecution called up two other witnesses but learnt there were no more witnesses. At this, the court questioned the case focal person, Inspector Shahab, as to why five witnesses were not produced as directed.

The court directed IO Abid Qaimkhani to present five witnesses at the next hearing, adding that they should not be witnesses who later demurred. The court adjourned the hearing till September 10.

'Terrorist' remanded

Meanwhile, an ATC handed over the accused allegedly linked to an international terrorist network to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police on physical remand until August 25.

The CTD police produced the accused, Nasir Ali alias Shah Ji, before the court. The IO said he was arrested based on intelligence, while a grenade, Kalashnikov and a repeater were recovered from his possession.

He added that Ali had brainwashed several people and sent them to other countries for terrorist training.

The IO requested the court to hand over the accused on physical remand so they could obtain more information about his accomplices.

The court granted the request.

Baldia fire factory case

Separately, an ATC directed the accused's counsel to continue his arguments at the next hearing of the Baldia fire factory case.

Jail officials presented the accused, former sector in-charge Rehman Bhola and Zubair Charya, in court.

The ATC directed their counsel to continue the final argument and adjourned the hearing until September 2.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2020.