Stoned to death: ATC to hear Farzana’s case today

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court will today (Tuesday) continue hearing the murder case of a pregnant woman, beaten to death allegedly by her family members outside the Lahore High Court on May 27. ATC judge Latif Haroon on Monday summoned both counsels to appear for arguments regarding the court’s jurisdiction. The defence counsel claimed that the case did not fall under the ambit of the Anti-Terrorism Act. He requested the court to transfer the case to the sessions court. The judge directed both sides to continue their arguments on the issue at today’s hearing as well. At previous hearing, the judge summoned prosecution witnesses after indicting five men. The accused are: Farzana’s father Azeem, two brothers Ghulam Ali and Zahid Iqbal, former husband Mazhar Abbas and a cousin, Jahan Khan. On May 27, the suspects killed Farzana Bibi with a brick when she came to LHC to record her statement. The accused registered a case against Farzana’s husband for kidnapping her and forcing her into marriage.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2014.