Trial court summons victims in couple case
Trial court awarded the death sentence to each convict on 23 counts. PHOTO: REUTERS
A trial court in Islamabad has summoned the victim girl and boy in person on January 4 to record their statements in the harassment case involving Usman Mirza and co-accused.
When Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani took up the case for hearing, lawyers of the accused completed the cross-examination of the 14th witness Anis-ur-Rehman.
Public Prosecutor Hassan Abbas and lawyer Hassan Javed Shorash appeared on behalf of the victims.
The Islamabad High Court has given an extension to the trial court to wrap up the case by February 28.
Earlier, IHC judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani had issued orders to complete the trial of the case by December 5. However, the deadline was extended on a request of the trial court which has sought more time to complete the proceedings.
Among the 14 witnesses whose statements have so far been recorded in the case are Assistant Commissioner Secretariat Anil Saeed, Assistant Commissioner President Circle Dr Sania Saeed, plaintiff case (then) SHO Golra Police Station Asim Ghaffar, who prepared three forensic reports, FIA Deputy Director Forensic Masood Ali, FIA Technical Assistant Anis-ur-Rehman (Anis-ur-Rehman compiled a report on Usman Mirza's trends on Twitter), Noor Elahi, Muharram Mall Khana Inayat Khan, Rabb Nawaz, Sajjad Afzal, Shop owner Usman Shah, Syed Wali Khan, CDR operators Mazhar and Sher Ali. Further hearing of the case will be held on January 4, 2022.
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On the other hand, the hearing of the Noor Muqqadam murder case will be held Wednesday (today). Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani has summoned the plaintiff Shaukat Muqaddam in person to record his statement.
In addition, Akram Qureshi, counsel for Tahir Zahoor, owner of Therapy Work, has verbally requested the court to play the CCTV footage of the case in the courtroom during the cross-examination of the prosecution witness Mudassir. The counsel for the accused has requested to hear the case in-camera.
CDR witness Mudassir will be cross-examined by the counsel of the accused today.
The hearing on a plea of the main accused, Zahir Jaffer, to form a medical board to check his mental health will also be conducted today.
The hearing on a plea of Therapy Works to summon three more witnesses will also be conducted today. The Islamabad High Court has given the lower court six more weeks to complete the trial.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2021.