Karachi
An MNA of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Shahjahan Baloch was acquitted on Friday for want of evidence by an anti-terrorism court from charges of being involved in an attack on the Baghdadi police station in 2012.
The attack for which Baloch was being tried by the anti-terrorism court took place in 2012 and claimed the life of one constable while injuring another. But since no proof could be presented in the anti-terrorism court trying Baloch for his alleged involvement in the attack, he was acquitted from all charges.
Baloch had already been acquitted by the Additional District and Sessions Court South when the police failed to bring forth adequate evidence to prove the charge of possession of illegal arms.
However, PPP MNA Shahjahan Baloch, along with Amin Buledi and several others still face charges of serious crimes pertaining to their involvement in the Lyari gang war. The charges include armed attacks on and are registered at the Baghdadi, Kalakot and Kharadar police stations.
Shahjahan Baloch and Amin Buledi have also been indicted among seven others for the brutal murder of notorious gangster of Lyari Arshad Pappu, his brother and a friend in March 2013.
Charges had already been framed against the accused before the anti-terrorism court concerned in which seven men, Zubair Jan Baloch (brother of Uzair Jan Baloch), Zakir Baloch, Abdur Rehman, Javed Baloch and a policeman Yousuf Baloch had pleaded not guilty.
The trial court is also recording evidence against the alleged killers of Arshad Pappu, his brother Yasir Arafat and a close confidant Shera Pathan. The three men had been picked up in the wee hours of March 16 and their bodies n pieces were later found in different parts of Lyari.
The case against the suspects was registered by Pappu’s widow, who claimed that her minor son had witnessed the murder of his father, his uncle and their friend.
Meanwhile, PPP MNA Baloch and Amin Buledi are also being tried for the alleged murders of three policemen and five citizens during the Lyari operation in 2012.
Most of the cases have been submitted to different presiding officers of the anti-terrorism courts while the others were transferred to lower courts concerned.
Target killers remanded
An anti-terrorism court also remanded two men Munawar and Rafique to Rangers’ custody for 90-preventive detention for their alleged involvement in target killings and extortion.
According to the Rangers’ law officer, both suspects were involved in kidnappings for ransom, collecting extortion money for traders and target killings.
The law officer further informed the court that the two accused were arrested after gathering credible information and they needed to be interrogated thoroughly and the court endorsed the apprehension letter issued under Section 11-EEEE of the Pakistan Protection Act.