Youm-e-Ali firing suspects acquitted

KARACHI: Six men, who were arrested on charges of attacking a Youm-e-Ali procession near Empress Market, were acquitted on Thursday by an administrative judge of Karachi’s anti-terrorism courts, Justice Maqbool Baqar.

The judge gave the orders after the police submitted a report in court on Wednesday, according to which no evidence could be gathered against them. “There has been an incident of firing nevertheless, and if these men were not responsible, someone else was. The police should recover the bullet rounds and other material from the area where the incident took place and that can help solve the case,” the judge remarked.

The judge also ordered the police to use scientific methods to investigate the case. “The TV footage of the incident should be enhanced using technology so that it can reveal more facts about the case and evidence could be found.”

The six men - Naseeb Khan, Mohibullah, Barkat Khan, Mohammad Waseem, Ainul Ibad and Naeem Kakar - were arrested after an attack on the Youm-e-Ali procession near Empress Market on September 1. Meanwhile, Justice Baqar also remanded three men in the custody of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell till September 30. The suspects were arrested from Liaquatabad for kidnappings and possession of arms.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2010.