Amended indictment in OPP official's murder case rejected

Case is in final stage, only final arguments sought, court rules

KARACHI:

Significant development has taken place in the murder case of Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) director Parveen Rehman.

A special anti-terrorism court rejected the prosecution's request for an amended indictment under the criminal conspiracy section in the case. The special ATC in Karachi Central Jail has ruled on a petition filed by the prosecution seeking imposition of an amended indictment under the Criminal Conspiracy clause in the case. The court rejected the petition.

The court ruled that the case was in the final stages. The whole process is complete. The court sought final arguments from the Special Public Prosecutor. The court adjourned the case till November 30.

Cases of terrorism

Meanwhile, a Karachi-based special anti-terrorism court has granted the prosecution's plea in cases of terrorism, anti-Pakistan slogans and attack on a media house and directed the witnesses and the suspects to ensure attendance at the next hearing.

MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Aamir Khan, Shahid Pasha and others appeared in the court. The prosecution requested that the hearing may be adjourned which was allowed by the court. The court adjourned the hearing, ordering the witnesses and the suspects to appear at the next hearing.

Death penalty

Moreover, the Karachi-based special Anti-Terrorism Court has twice convicted political party activist Danish Rahmani and sentenced him to death in the murder case of former Nazim Naimatullah Khan's Coordinator, Liaquatabad Town UC-10 Nazim and Jamaat-e-Islami activist Zainul Abidin alias Abid Ilyas.

The prosecution succeeded in proving the charges. The suspect was sentenced to death separately under the provisions of murder and terrorism. The court sentenced Rahmani to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 for possession of illicit arms. According to court sources, the accused was out on bail but after the verdict was announced, he was arrested from the court room and sent to jail.

According to police, the accused had killed Zainul Abidin alias Abid Ilyas in Gulbahar area in 2013. The suspect was arrested from the area of Liaquatabad police station in a case of possession illicit weapons. During interrogation, the suspect had confessed to killing Zainul Abidin alias Abid Ilyas.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2021.