ATC indicts Uzair Baloch in SHO murder case

Lyari gangster, accomplices are accused of killing Khan in an attack on police in 2012

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) indicted on Saturday Lyari gang kingpin Uzair Baloch in a case pertaining to the murder of Civil Lines SHO Fawad Khan.

Uzair was presented in court under strict security, as the court issued the indictment to him along with Abdul Ghaffar alias Mama, Zakir alias Dada and Ramzan alias Ramzani.

The accused denied the charges, upon which the court issued notices to the investigation officer (IO) and witnesses.

According to the police, the accused had attacked the police in Kalakot in 2012, killing SHO Khan and injuring three officials.

Separately, an ATC accepted a police report claiming Uzair's arrest and directed the law enforcers to submit a progress report in a case pertaining to Uzair besieging the Kalri police station with an accomplice.

The Kalri police submitted a report stating that Uzair had encircled the police station with Zafar Baloch in February 2012, shouting slogans against the government and police.

It further said they had attacked former Kutchi Rabita Committee chief Karim Shah's house and injured him.

The report claimed Uzair's arrest, calling him an absconder in the case. The court accepted the report and sought a progress report on the next hearing.

Rape-murder case

Meanwhile, an ATC sent the accused, Faiz alias Faizu and Abdullah, to jail on judicial remand in the case pertaining to a five-year-old girl's rape and murder.

The IO informed the court that no evidence was found against accused Nawaz during the investigation, upon which the court removed his name from the case.

According to the police, Faiz and Abdullah had confessed to raping and murdering the child in their initial statement.

Warrant issued for SHO

An ATC also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for the Clifton SHO in cases pertaining to anti-state slogans, terrorism and attack on a media house.

The accused, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Amir Khan, Qamar Mansoor and others, appeared in court.

The court expressed annoyance at the police for failing to present witnesses. It directed them to present the witnesses at the next hearing, adjourning the hearing till October 12 and issuing a warrant for the Clifton SHO.

Accused summoned to court

An ATC directed the accused to ensure their presence at the next hearing of 27 cases pertaining to provocative speech by the MQM founder.

Accused Amir Khan, Wasim Akhtar, Dr Sattar and others appeared in court, while counsels stated that other accused, namely Rauf Siddiqui and Khawaja Izharul Hassan, could not appear due to illness. The court adjourned the hearing till October 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2020.