ATC defers verdict in extra-judicial killing case for a fourth time
Court concluded hearing of final arguments on February 25, but has yet to pronounce its verdict. CREATIVE COMMON
Owing to a review petition before the Supreme Court, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday deferred its judgment in the murder of a citizen by a Rangers official for the fourth time.
The defence counsel submitted a plea on Wednesday, requesting the court to defer its verdict since a review application was pending before the Supreme Court.
Rangers official, Shahzad, had been charged with killing a man, Ghulam Haider, for allegedly not stopping his car when ordered to do so within the limits of Shah Faisal Colony police station on June 6.
The judge of ATC-I had reserved its verdict on Feb 11 after recording evidence of witnesses and hearing final arguments from the prosecution and defence on Feb 25. The court, however, had deferred its verdict till March 8.
When the court reconvened on March 17, it again deferred its judgement till April 16 when it deferred for a third time.
On Wednesday, the court deferred judgement for a fourth time till May 3.
The defence counsel had filed a review application in the Supreme Court to review its previous orders according to which police had been directed to insert sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, in such cases.
The case against Shahzad had initially been registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and referred to a sessions court for trial.
Later, Section 7 of the ATA was incorporated in the FIR, and the case was moved to the anti-terrorism court.
The apex court had also asked the trial court to decide the case within seven days. The court, however, has yet to pronounce its judgement.