SC cancels accused’s bail in anchorperson murder case
An AFP file image
The Supreme Court cancelled on Friday the interim bail granted to accused Adil Zaman by the Sindh High Court in the case pertaining to anchorperson Mureed Abbas' murder.
The apex court's Karachi Registry issued its verdict on the plea seeking the cancellation of Adil's bail.
According to the verdict, the witnesses, Umar Rehan and Usama, had stated that Adil was present at the crime scene along with the prime suspect, his brother Atif Zaman, at the time of the murder. It added that both these witnesses had identified Adil in an identification parade.
The verdict further states that the records had proven that the murder weapon was owned by Adil, adding that the available evidence was enough to prove him as a co-accused in the case.
Furthermore, the court stated that the high court had ignored important evidence and facts while approving Adil's bail plea and thus, the apex court nullified the SHC's order. The court directed the trial court to announce its verdict after a fair trial of the murder case.
On September 10, a Supreme Court bench, hearing the plea seeking annulment of Adil's bail, had revoked his bail and ordered the police to take him into custody. However, the accused, who had been present on court premises, had managed to escape.
According to the prosecution, Atif had gunned down Abbas and Khizer Hayat over a financial dispute in Defence Housing Authority on July 9, 2019.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2020.