An anti-terrorism court (ATC) acquitted on Monday five accused in a case pertaining to the targeted killing of two police officers, SHO Nasirul Hassan and constable Khurram Butt.
The acquitted accused include Ubaid K2, Ishtiaq Policewala, Khawaja Faisal, Shakir and Zakir Hussain, all of whom are affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
At the hearing, the accused's counsel argued that the statements of eyewitnesses and police were contradictory. He further said that law enforcers had also failed to produce substantial evidence to prove charges against the accused.
The counsel for the accused said not a single piece of evidence was produced against his clients.
At this, the court acquitted five persons accused in the dual murder case.
On July 1, 2010, Hassan, who was recently posted as the SHO of Brigade Police Station, and Butt were gunned down by unidentified assailants when they were returning to the police station after completing a round of snap checking.
According to police, Hassan had played a key role in action against an underworld don, Shoaib Khan, and in the killing of Siddiq Bocha in Baldia Town many years ago during a police encounter.
He had also been imprisoned for 19 months with SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan and other officials for 'mistakenly' killing a farmer "believing" that he was a wanted criminal known as Mashooq Barohi.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2020.
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