Wali Babar killing: Trial court told to wind up case in 45 days

SHC orders govt to provide security to complainant, witnesses and lawyers.

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court has been ordered to conclude the Wali Khan Babar killing case within 45 days.

The Sindh High Court told the Anti-Terrorism Court-III on Friday to wrap up the hearings on a petition filed by the journalist’s brother.

Mohabat Khan Babar had challenged the Sindh home department’s official notification to shift the trial from anti-terrorism court to the central prison due to security reasons.

The case of Geo TV reporter’s murder has been going on for months now. The journalist was shot dead in Liaquatabad on January 13, 2011.

Five accused - Mohammad Shahrukh, Faisal Mehmood, Mohammad Shakeel, Syed Tahir Naveed Shah and Syed Mohammad Ali Rizvi - have been accused of involvement in the murder case. Five others, including Kamran alias Zeeshan, Junaid, Saeed, Liaquat and Faisal, have been declared absconders.

“I cannot bring the witnesses [to court] due to trial proceedings inside the central jail,” Mohabat Khan had stated in his petition. “My lawyer, Arshad Iqbal Cheema, has already left the country after he was threatened with dire consequences. No other lawyer is ready to plead my case.”

The home department had issued the notification in question without seeking his consent, the petitioner contended, appealing to the court to set aside the order.

On Friday, provincial law officer also filed comments on behalf of the home department.

The case as a policy matter was shifted to the jail as usually the cases of high-profile criminals, booked in five or more cases, or convicted prisoners are heard inside the central jail due to security reasons, he submitted.

Comments were also filed on behalf of the Sindh IG Prisons, who supported the decision of holding the trial inside the prison.

After hearing the arguments, the division bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, directed the provincial government to ensure adequate security for the complainant, witnesses and the lawyers engaged with the case on their way to the court. The petition was then disposed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2012.