‘Suspects followed Shahzeb until they saw his motionless body at hospital’
Court issues show-cause notice to TV anchor for commenting on ongoing case.
A file photo of protesters holding placards calling for justice. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE
KARACHI:
In yet another twist in the Shahzeb Khan murder trial, an eyewitness told the court on Wednesday that the suspects were not satisfied after fighting with and shooting the 20-year-old. They followed him to the hospital until they saw his body in the hospital.
The witness, who was a friend of the deceased, revealed these details at the Anti-Terrorism Court on Wednesday before Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon. The same witness also identified all four suspects of the case - namely Shahrukh Jatoi, Siraj and Sajjad Talpur and Ghulam Mustafa Lashari.
The suspects came to hospital after the shooting, but they left after they saw Shahzeb’s body in the emergency room, said the witness. “These were the boys who were fighting with Shahzeb at the Country Club Apartments,” he said. “They chased him and then opened fire at him.”
According to special public prosecutor Muntazir Mehdi, the witness told the court in his statement that he was present at the Country Club Apartments, where the alleged fight broke out and he saw all four suspects fighting with Shahzeb. Satisfied with the witness’ statement, Mehdi said that the witness responded well during cross examination as well.
Besides the eyewitness, the medical superintendent of the services hospital, Dr Muhammad Taufeeq, told the court that Shahrukh, the main suspect of the case, was an adult. An anti-terrorism court had earlier directed the medical superintendent to constitute a medical board to conduct Shahrukh’s ossification test. Dr Taufeeq, who was the secretary of the medical board, submitted all the records of the tests conducted to determine his age.
The number of Shahrukh’s teeth and the bones in his x-ray show that he was not underage and his educational documents, obtained from the investigating officer, also support the statement that he is an adult. The doctor said that Shahrukh is 20 years old, Mehdi told The Express Tribune.
Meanwhile, the SPP moved an application before the court against a television show ‘Sar-i-aam’ on ARY News. He said the comments made by the anchorperson, Iqrarul Hasan, were beyond the scope of law. He requested the court take action against Hasan for commenting on an ongoing case. Following this request, the court issued a show-cause notice to Hasan with directions to appear before the court in person and satisfy the court through a proper explanation on April 12. The next hearing will take place today.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2013.
In yet another twist in the Shahzeb Khan murder trial, an eyewitness told the court on Wednesday that the suspects were not satisfied after fighting with and shooting the 20-year-old. They followed him to the hospital until they saw his body in the hospital.
The witness, who was a friend of the deceased, revealed these details at the Anti-Terrorism Court on Wednesday before Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon. The same witness also identified all four suspects of the case - namely Shahrukh Jatoi, Siraj and Sajjad Talpur and Ghulam Mustafa Lashari.
The suspects came to hospital after the shooting, but they left after they saw Shahzeb’s body in the emergency room, said the witness. “These were the boys who were fighting with Shahzeb at the Country Club Apartments,” he said. “They chased him and then opened fire at him.”
According to special public prosecutor Muntazir Mehdi, the witness told the court in his statement that he was present at the Country Club Apartments, where the alleged fight broke out and he saw all four suspects fighting with Shahzeb. Satisfied with the witness’ statement, Mehdi said that the witness responded well during cross examination as well.
Besides the eyewitness, the medical superintendent of the services hospital, Dr Muhammad Taufeeq, told the court that Shahrukh, the main suspect of the case, was an adult. An anti-terrorism court had earlier directed the medical superintendent to constitute a medical board to conduct Shahrukh’s ossification test. Dr Taufeeq, who was the secretary of the medical board, submitted all the records of the tests conducted to determine his age.
The number of Shahrukh’s teeth and the bones in his x-ray show that he was not underage and his educational documents, obtained from the investigating officer, also support the statement that he is an adult. The doctor said that Shahrukh is 20 years old, Mehdi told The Express Tribune.
Meanwhile, the SPP moved an application before the court against a television show ‘Sar-i-aam’ on ARY News. He said the comments made by the anchorperson, Iqrarul Hasan, were beyond the scope of law. He requested the court take action against Hasan for commenting on an ongoing case. Following this request, the court issued a show-cause notice to Hasan with directions to appear before the court in person and satisfy the court through a proper explanation on April 12. The next hearing will take place today.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2013.