Naqeebullah case judgment to be announced on April 5

ATC hears petition seeking opinion of geo-fencing experts

KARACHI:

A special anti-terrorism court (ATC), hearing the Naqeebullah murder case, has reserved judgment on a plea filed by the plaintiff's lawyer. The case was heard before the Karachi Special Anti-Terrorism Court on Saturday. Former SSP Malir, Rao Anwar, DSP Qamar and other accused appeared in the court.

The junior counsel said that the plaintiff's lawyer Salahuddin Panhwar was out of town and could not appear. A petition was filed by the plaintiff's counsel stating that the opinion of experts on geo-fencing of the case should be sought.

The plea demanded that DG FIA should be directed to appoint experts for geo-fencing as the evidence presented so far in the lawsuit does not include the opinion of geo-fencing experts.

The public prosecutor also argued that the opinion of experts on geo-fencing was essential.

Meanwhile, Former SSP Malir Rao Anwar's lawyer, Amir Mansoob argued that the petition was not signed by the public prosecutor and the plea was meaningless as the statements of all witnesses have already been recorded.

Under the constitution, the FIA has no authority to look into such matters, he said, adding that a report by geo-fencing experts was already submitted at the court. He further argued that the current FIA officers were part of the committee investigating the case.

The defence counsel further argued that the officers were against the accused, which is why the plea was made.

He said that since the statement of the investigating officer of the case has already been recorded, the petition is inadmissible and should be rejected. The court reserved the judgment on the petition and remarked that the decision on the petition would be pronounced on April 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2022.