Number of witnesses in Shahzeb murder trial goes down
Lawyer presents suspects’ documents so they can qualify for B-class in jail.
Shahzeb Khan. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
A total of seven witnesses in Shahzeb Khan’s murder trial have been excluded from the list by the special public prosecutor on Wednesday.
The witnesses include four police officials and three other men, including Express News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada. According to the prosecutor Muntazir Mehdi, he gave up these names because their statements were more or less the same and their testimonies will not lend any support to the prosecution.
The anti-terrorism court also issued non-bailable warrants for two other witnesses, who were bound to appear before the court but failed to do so on Wednesday. The investigating officer informed the court that both the witnesses were out of the city.
Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon was not satisfied with this excuse and called DIG South Shahid Hayat in person for further explanation.
Following court orders, DIG South appeared before the court and assured that court instructions would be strictly followed.
Memon also directed the Sindh IGP through a written letter to take personal interest in the case and direct his sub-ordinates to follow court orders. The judge issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer for not producing the witnesses in the court. The officer will submit his reply at the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the counsel for defence presented the educational and other necessary documents that showed Shahrukh Jatoi, Sajjad and Siraj Talpur as educated men who pay their taxes so that they can qualify for B-class in jail.
The court ordered that all documents must be verified when the state counsel raised doubts over their authenticity.
Meanwhile, the counsel for a witness submitted powers in the case after he received a court notice for changing his statement.
The counsel requested the court allow time for them to submit a reply, to which the judge allowed one day. The other witness, who was also accused of deviating from his statements, has yet to receive any notice. The next hearing will take place today.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.
A total of seven witnesses in Shahzeb Khan’s murder trial have been excluded from the list by the special public prosecutor on Wednesday.
The witnesses include four police officials and three other men, including Express News anchor Shahzeb Khanzada. According to the prosecutor Muntazir Mehdi, he gave up these names because their statements were more or less the same and their testimonies will not lend any support to the prosecution.
The anti-terrorism court also issued non-bailable warrants for two other witnesses, who were bound to appear before the court but failed to do so on Wednesday. The investigating officer informed the court that both the witnesses were out of the city.
Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon was not satisfied with this excuse and called DIG South Shahid Hayat in person for further explanation.
Following court orders, DIG South appeared before the court and assured that court instructions would be strictly followed.
Memon also directed the Sindh IGP through a written letter to take personal interest in the case and direct his sub-ordinates to follow court orders. The judge issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer for not producing the witnesses in the court. The officer will submit his reply at the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the counsel for defence presented the educational and other necessary documents that showed Shahrukh Jatoi, Sajjad and Siraj Talpur as educated men who pay their taxes so that they can qualify for B-class in jail.
The court ordered that all documents must be verified when the state counsel raised doubts over their authenticity.
Meanwhile, the counsel for a witness submitted powers in the case after he received a court notice for changing his statement.
The counsel requested the court allow time for them to submit a reply, to which the judge allowed one day. The other witness, who was also accused of deviating from his statements, has yet to receive any notice. The next hearing will take place today.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2013.