Hostile witnesses: Five acquitted of murder charge

They were arrested for shooting dead Imran

FAISALABAD:

An anti-terrorism court on Monday acquitted five men accused of murdering a student in the Civil Lines area.

The prosecution said Iqbal Sharif, a hotel owner, his manager Mian Naeem, security guard Safdar, bank manager Fazal and his son Jamal Fazal and their three accomplices - Zeeshan, Nadeem and Phoga - were arrested for shooting dead Imran, a resident of Gulsitan Colony on February 19 in front of a hotel near Islamia College on Sargodha Road.

Witnesses had said the student was by passing National Hotel when an unidentified man taunted him. They said when Imran responded harshly, the man slapped him. They said Imran went back to the college and returned with some friends who tried to beat up the man who had slapped him.

They said the man ran inside the hotel and called for help. They said later, some men carrying guns emerged from the hotel and shot at the students. Imran died on the spot.

ATC Judge Raja Parvaiz Akhtar acquitted Iqbal Sharif, Mian Naeem, Safdar, Fazal and Jamal Fazal over hostile witnesses. The court declared Zeeshan, Nadeem and Phoga proclaimed offenders.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2015.