Witness says saw no armed vandals in media houses attack
A witness told the special anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday that he did not see any vandalism carried out at the offices of two media houses on August 22, 2016.
The witness said under oath that he did not see any armed arsonists at the places mentioned in the case. The ATC adjourned the hearing after cross-examination of a witness in the cases pertaining to terrorism, anti-state slogans, hate speech and attacks on media houses.
Miscreants had launched attacks on several media offices, soon after the then-party supremo Altaf Hussain delivered hate speech and anti-state remarks on August 22, 2016.
Subsequently, MQM's senior leader Farooq Sattar had announced to disassociate the affairs of the party from Altaf, saying all political affairs will be run from Karachi ending the political era of Altaf Hussain.
Read ATC acquits MQM leaders in provocative speech cases
Dr Farooq Sattar, Aamir Khan, Kunwar Naveed Jamil, Qamar Mansoor and others appeared in the Karachi-based ATC. A witness Aurangzeb Khattak also appeared in the court.
The statement of the witness was recorded during the hearing which was cross-examined by lawyers.
The witness was asked if he had identified the people at the identity parade. The witness replied that he could not identify all the people. He was questioned whether the people he recognised carried out vandalism. The witness replied that no vandalism was carried out in front of him.
He was questioned that as per the allegation levelled by the police that the people were carrying weapons so if he could identify the person who were carrying weapons. The witness replied that he did not see anyone with the weapons.
The witness said, the media houses, which were attacked do not broadcast from there.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2021.