A special anti-terrorism court has acquitted alleged Lyari gangsters Uzair Baloch and another suspect named Shahid for lack of evidence.
The court ruled that the prosecution ailed to prove the charges against Baloch and others. Defence counsel Advocate Abid Zaman argued that not a single witness came forward to name Baloch in any crime. "The allegations made by the prosecution are false," he said.
According to police, there were several charges against Baloch, including attempted murder and possession of explosives. A case was registered against the suspect at the Napier police station in 2012.
In 2021, Baloch said he never gave a confessional statement about collecting extortion money and sending a share to Pakisan Peoples Party leaders.
Following his arrest in 2015, a confessional statement by the alleged crime lord appeared in 2016 in which he admitted to committing criminal activities in connivance with the Karachi police and political set-up in the province.
As per the statement, he confessed to have collected Rs20 million extortion from different persons and departments every month, adding that the fisheries department would pay Rs2 million and gave Rs10 million per month to a senior leader of PPP.
However, Baloch has denied this statement later.
Read More: ‘Lyari gangster arrested’
Subsequently, the request of a judicial magistrate to have his statement recorded via video link was rejected by a special anti-terrorism court.
The magistrate put this request forward as he was unable to appear in person in relation to his recording of the confessional statement of alleged Lyari gangster Uzair Baloch.
Special Court No 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Complex in Karachi Central Jail rejected the plea while it was hearing a case against the murder of a Rangers official. The court summoned the judicial magistrate and the investigating officer, in person, at the next hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2022.
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