ATC summons witness in Uzair Baloch case

Denies judicial magistrate’s request to record statement via video link

KARACHI:

An anti-terrrorism court refused on Thursday to record the statement of the judicial magistrate, who is a witness in a murder case against notorious gangster Uzair Baloch, via video link.

Hearing the case at Karachi Central Jail, ATC No16 turned down Central judicial magistrate Imran Imam Zaidi’s request. According to the prosecution, the magistrate had recorded Baloch’s confessional statement in the murder case of a Pakistan Rangers personnel.

The court summoned the magistrate in person. In its written verdict, the ATC noted that letters have been issued to the district court over the absence of the witness. “Witness statements can be recorded on video link for security reasons. In this case, neither party has mentioned threats or security concerns,” the court observed. It also ordered the sending of a copy of the order to the Sindh High Court. The Central district court had earlier accepted the magistrate’s request to record his statement via video link.

ASI murder case

Meanwhile, in a major development in the ASI Arshad Tanoli murder case, a magistrate identified accused, Saad Aziz, who has previous been handed a death sentence in the Safoora tragedy case.

Speaking before an ATC, the magistrate stated that Aziz was identified by a witness during an identification parade in July 2015.

Read More: Uzair Baloch says never gave ‘confessional statement’

The court recorded the magistrate’s statement and, expressing annoyance at the investigation officer’s absence, summoned the IO to the hearing.

According to the police, Aziz and his accomplices attacked cops in Saddar, killing ASI Tanoli and injuring two others.

Exemption granted

Another ATC accepted defendant Sindh Taraqi Pasand (STP) party’s Dr Qadir Magsi’s petition seeking exemption from hearings of the case pertaining to vandalism in Bahria Town earlier this year.

Jalal Mehmood Shah, Riaz Chandio and other accused appeared before the court but Dr Magsi did not.

The defence counsel informed the court that the STP leader was ill with the coronavirus and could not appear before the court. He prayed the court to grant an exemption to his client.

Accepting the request, the ATC adjourned the hearing till August 26 and directed the police to submit its documents at the next hearing.

Murder case

Separately, an ATC heard arguments by the counsels in the Suleiman Lashari murder case and directed the counsels to continue arguments at the next hearing.

Accused Salman Abro was produced before the court.

The ATC adjourned the hearing till August 8.

O Levels student Suleiman Lashari was gunned down at his house in Defence Housing Society. The case pertaining to the murder was lodged at Darakshan Police Station.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2021.