Amir, Afaq aquitted in MQM activist’s murder case
The Sindh High Court (SHC) annulled the sentence awarded to Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM) Coordination Committee's Senior Deputy Convenor Aamir Khan and Mohajir Qaumi Movement Chairman Afaq Ahmed while giving a verdict after 12 years against the petition of the sentence in the murder case of MQM activist Muhammad Farooq.
Farooq was allegedly killed on the order of Amir and Afaq during the 1992 bloodbath in the city when factions of MQM were killing each others activists. The case was decided in 2010 almost 18 years after the FIR was registered.
A single bench comprising Justice Irshad Ali Shah in his verdict said that the prosecution failed to prove the allegation. The court passed a short verdict on the appeals after 12 years, while a detailed judgment will be announced later.
The court annulled the life sentence of Aamir Khan and Afaq Ahmed and acquitted both of them.
A comprehensive judgment would be delivered later, the court remarked.
Afaq Ahmed's lawyer stated that there is a contradiction in the prosecution witnesses. The investigating officer did not even inspect the crime scene. The prosecution has not proved the allegations against the accused.
According to the police, both suspects were charged with the murder of MQM activist Muhammad Farooq.
The deceased Muhammad Farooq and his other accomplices were abducted from Landhi on June 19, 1992. Muhammad Farooq was killed allegedly at the behest of the accused. A case of murder was registered against the accused in the Landhi police station.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2022.