Order reserved on plea in journalist murder case
KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court reserved on Thursday its order on a plea of the defence counsel in a case pertaining to the murder of a journalist.
Faisal Mahmood alias Nafsiati, Syed Mohammad Ali Rizvi, Shahrukh alias Mani, Naveed alias Polka and Shakil alias Malik with their absconding accomplices have been charged with the murder of Wali Khan Babar, a reporter of Geo News, on Jan 13, 2011 within the remit of the Supermarket police station.
The defence counsel moved an application contending that the complainant’s counsel, Arshad Iqbal Cheema, was the special public prosecutor at the court of the administrative judge of ATCs in Karachi when the accused were arrested and charge-sheeted. Thus, he argued, Mr Cheema could not represent the complainant party.
The complainant’s lawyer opposed the plea and argued that there was no legal restraint on his representing the complainant in the case, and submitted some rulings of superior courts in this regard.
The defence counsel also filed citations of apex courts in support of his arguments.
The judge, Ghulam Mustafa Memon of ATC-III, reserved the order on the plea after hearing both sides till March 21.
A case (FIR 8/11) was registered under Sections 302 (punishment for premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Man convicted
A sessions court sentenced on Thursday a man to five years imprisonment for illegally travelling and staying abroad.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs25,000, and in case of non-payment the convict, Mugheer Ahmed Qureshi, would have to undergo an additional three-month imprisonment.
The additional district and sessions judge (Malir), Munawar Sultana, pronounced the verdict after hearing both sides.
The Federal Investigation Agency had arrested the accused at the airport in Karachi upon his arrival after he was deported from a foreign country for his illegal stay.
The accused was present in the court on bail. He was taken into custody after the pronouncement of the order and sent to prison.
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