• October 23, 2022
• General News
• Web Desk

karachi: Interned Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Jam Awais, who, along with his servants, is facing charges of murdering Nazim Jokhio, was not produced before a sessions court on Saturday for a fourth consecutive hearing.

As Additional District and Sessions Judge-I (Malir) Faraz Ahmed Chandio resumed the hearing of the case, the held accused– Meer Ali and Haider Ali – as well as those out on bail – Muhammad Mairaj, Mohammad Saleem Salar, Ahmed Khan Shoro, Mohammad Doda Khan and Mohammad Soomar – showed up in the court. However, the lawmaker was not presented by jail authorities.

A police official, Nek Muhammad, submitted a report informing the judge that Jam Awais had been admitted to a private health facility, Darul Sehat Hospital. He also placed on record the accused’s medical certificate. This is the fourth time he has not been brought to the court due to “ill health”.

Meanwhile, the court recorded statements of Afzal Jokhio, the complainant of the case, and Shireen Jokhio, widow of the deceased, in respect of an out-of-court settlement they have reached with the lawmaker and others. They told the judge that they would have no objection if Jam Awais and five of his servants – Shoro, Doda Khan, Soomar, Saleem, and Mairaj – were acquitted. They, however, added that they wound not forgive Haider, Meer and Niaz Salar and want them to be prosecuted for the murder.

The judge adjourned the hearing until October 28 when he would record the statement of the deceased’s mother Ms Jamiat. The court issued Jam Awais’ production order with a direction to the jail authorities to produce him on the next date.

The accused through their lawyers Wazeer Hussain Khoso and Asadullah Memon had filed applications under sections 345(2), 345(4) and 345(6) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), stating that the both parties had reached a compromise whereby the victim’s family had pardoned the accused in the name of Allah Almighty and without accepting Diyat (blood money) or any other sort of monetary compensation.

“It is prayed on behalf of the parties that this honourable court may kindly be pleased to accept the compromise and acquit the applicants in the above crime/case as the legal heirs of the deceased have forgiven the applicants in the name of Almighty Allah and do not want to proceed with the case against them further,” read one of the pleas. The affidavits signed by Shireen and Jamiat were also filed along with the applications. The National Database Registration Authority, the station house officer of the Memon Goth police station and the relevant Mukhtiarkar have already furnished their reports about the legal heirs of the deceased in pursuance of the court’s directive.

Source: The News