Former SP absents himself to avoid indictment
The absence of one of the seven men nominated in the Benazir Bhutto assassination case as well as his defence counsel delayed their formal indictment by an anti-terrorism court, on Saturday.
Former SP Khurram Shahzad did not appear before the court, earning the judge’s ire since charges could not be framed in either his or his lawyer’s absence. Special Judge Anti-Terrorism Court-I Shahid Rafique adjourned the hearing till November 5, since Malik Rafique Ahmed, counsel for both police officers implicated in the former premier’s murder, was busy with the Supreme Court Bar Association’s elections.
Special Public Prosecutor Federal Investigation Agency Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali protested against the inordinate delay in court proceedings by the defence. He said it had been four years since Bhutto was murdered, but a formal trial of the accused was still to be initiated. He requested the court to ensure daily hearings under anti-terrorism laws to serve justice.
The court was expected to indict former city police officer Rawalpindi Saud Aziz, former SP Khurram Shahzad, Aitzaz Shah, Husnain Gul, Rafaqat Hussain, Sher Zaman and Rasheed Ahmed for the twice-elected prime minister’s assassination. The prosecution in the case has shortlisted its witnesses which now number less than 30. Initially, names of 80 witnesses had been submitted before the court.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2011.
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This case is going no where. After spending billions on NRO cases and lawyers by the state, all cases have been dismissed for lack of evidence. This case too will die its own death. This is the meaning of why Pakistan is called a failed state.