Physical remand of suspects in Jokhio murder case extended

Awais, other suspects produced in court under tight security

KARACHI:

A local court has extended the physical remand of MPA Jam Awais Gohram and other suspects in the murder case of Nazim Jokhio.

Jokhio was allegedly tortured to death by Awais and his men for making video of the MPA's foreign guests hunting houbara bustards and posting it on social media.

Police produced Jam Awais and other suspects before the Judicial Magistrate in Karachi's Malir Court during the hearing on Thursday. The defence counsel argued that the lawyers themselves were witnesses. "How can lawyers themselves be witnesses? The complainant's counsels are dictating in the case whereas it is the job of the police to investigate the case," the defence counsel contended.

The investigation officer said that CDR has been completed in the case whereas excise records for the vehicle in the video were not found. The police is getting details of the vehicle from customs officials. The investigation officer had requested for extension of physical remand of the suspect. The court while granting the request extended the physical remand of Jam Awais and other suspects till November 16.

The suspects were brought to the court under tight security. Unauthorised persons were not allowed to enter the corridor of the court.

Nazim Jokhio had uploaded a video on social media to stop foreigners from hunting in Malir's Memon Goth. His tortured body was found near MPA Awais’s house.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2021.