Murder case: Accused released after witness’s u-turn

Man convicted of brother-in-law’s killing.

LAHORE:

A man was released from a murder charge on Saturday after the complainant and key witness told the judge that the police had falsified his statement.

Abdullah was killed in November 2006 as he and his brother Abdur Rehman travelled to their factory in Ghaziabad police jurisdiction.

Their car was held up by robbers, who shot and killed Abdullah when he too pulled out a gun, according to Rehman.

Rehman told an additional district and sessions judge on Saturday that he did not believe that Safdar Iqbal was the murderer.

He said that the police had obtained his signature and thumb print on a blank piece of paper and then put down a false statement in his name accusing Iqbal of the killing. He said that he would have no objection to Iqbal being acquitted.

Meanwhile,. Additional District and Sessions Judge Sajjad Ahmed convicted a man of murdering his brother-in-law and sentenced him to death.

Nazim Ali killed Muhammad Ashraf in April 2007 in Sattukatla police jurisdiction because he had taken a second wife, according to the prosecution.

Ali was also directed to pay Rs100,000 in compensation to the heirs of the deceased. Another accused, Rehmat Ali, was acquitted of involvement in the killing.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2012.