Wali Babar’s murder: Suspects’ lawyer finally appears before court

The case could not proceed as the prosecutor for state is on leave.

KARACHI: After several notices, the defence counsel in the murder case of Wali Khan Babar, Salman Mujahid, finally appeared before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday. The case, however, could not proceed as the prosecutor for state has gone on a 15-day leave.

In the previous hearing, the ATC-III had ordered the appointment of a state counsel for the suspects on state expenses due to the absence of the defence counsel in the last many hearings. The court had accepted the application of the special public prosecutor, Abdul Maroof, seeking appointment of the defence counsel while giving a last chance to the defence counsel to appear before the court till October 22.

In his application, Maroof had said that the case was pending before the court as the defence counsel was absent for many hearings and the matter was adjourned several times, which was against the spirit of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).



The prosecutor had quoted several sections of the ATA in his application and requested the court to appoint a counsel for the suspects on state expenses so that the case may not be adjourned again.

Following the application, the court had issued notices to the defence counsel. After his appearance, the court fixed the next date of hearing for final arguments on October 29.

Muhabbat Wali Khan, brother of the slain reporter, has claimed in the FIR that the accused shot dead his brother in Liaquatabad on January 13, 2011.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2013.