Zahra Shahid murder: Plea seeking transfer of trial from ATC dismissed

Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday dismissed an application seeking transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leader Zahra Shahid’s murder case from an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to the sessions court.

Mohammad Rashid alias tailor, Zahid Abbas Zaidi, Irfan alias Lamba and Kaleem were among those booked for the murder that occurred on May 17, 2013 outside her residence in DHA.

Rashid submitted in the application that the case did not fall under the ambit of anti-terrorism act (ATC) and requested the court to transfer the trial from the ATC to a regular court.

The court after perusal of the case observed that the charges filed did fall within the ambit of ATA and dismissed the application.

The court also dismissed another transfer plea filed by an accused, reportedly a member of MQM, charged with murdering a policeman.

Applicant, Kamran, was arrested for murdering a policeman, Aurangzaib, in 2013 in Orangi Town. He was being tried by an ATC. The accused maintained that the case did not make for an ATC and should be heard in a session court.

SHO suspended

The SHC suspended SHO Mubina Town for not complying with court orders, after he was directed to submit a report regarding alleged detention of Adil Zafar, from his jurisdiction in October last year.

The SHO concerned never submitted any report; and was, hence, directed to be suspended by the provincial police chief for not complying with court orders. SSP West was asked to submit a report on the next date of hearing.

Detentions

The court further disposed petitions with regard to alleged detentions of activists of MQM as they were shown arrested in criminal cases.

The petitions against alleged detentions of activists Murshid Alam, Tariq, Khalilullah, Rehmatullah, Syed Nasir, Ghulam Fareed and Rifat were filed before the court by their relatives.

However, they informed the court that detainees had been shown arrested in different criminal cases and withdrew the petitions.