Shahzeb Khan murder case: Key witness’ plea for adjournment annoys ATC judge

Investigation officer told to appear in court on Monday to record statement.

KARACHI:

The Anti-Terrorism Court expressed annoyance over the key prosecution witness’ plea for time to testify in the Shahzeb Khan murder trial, observing that the proceedings were already delayed by a month despite the Supreme Court’s direction to conclude the same in seven days.

Last week, the Sindh High Court had given a seven-day extension, for the fourth consecutive time, to the ATC-III for completing the trial relating to murder of 20-year-old Shahzeb Khan. Shazeb was allegedly killed over a petty dispute in the Defense Housing Authority on December 25, 2012.

Shahrukh Jatoi, his friends Nawab Siraj Talpur, Nawab Sajjad Talpur, and their servant Ghulam Murtaza Lashari, have been charged with murdering Shahzeb.

On Saturday, Inspector Muhammad Mobin - who had replaced the first investigation officer - pleaded for one more day to prepare and record his statement, saying he was under stress on account of his father’s death. Special pubic prosecutor Abdul Maroof told the court that Mobin, who had arrested the suspects and arranged their identification parade before the relevant magistrate, was the important witness of the prosecution. Maroof asked the court to allow him time so that he could relax and prepare well to record his testimony.

Allowing the request, Judge Ghulam Mustafa Memon directed Mobin to appear on Monday to record his statement. Maroof told The Express Tribune that the investigation office was the last prosecution witness, adding that after his deposition, the prosecution’s side will be closed. “If the defence does not bring any more witnesses, then the suspects’ statement will be recorded followed by the final arguments.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2013.