Lawyers, witnesses’ no-show delaying Saddar IED attack trial: ATC

An anti-terrorism court has said that the non-appearance of witnesses and lawyers was the major reason behind delay in the conclusion of the trial in the high-profile case of an IED attack in Saddar.

Sabir Kharal, said to be associated with the outlawed Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), has been charged with the May 12, 2022 blast on Daud Pota Road that killed a passer-by and wounded several others.

As the case came up for hearing before the ATC-XII judge, the accused was produced from jail. The defence counsel was called absent. No prosecution witness was in attendance either.

The judge observed that the investigating officer, Jameel Ahmed Soomro, turned up without producing any witness, which showed his inefficiency.

The court repeated summons to all the witnesses with a direction to the IO to serve these on them as per the law. “In case of failure, strict action will be taken as per law against the IO as prosecution and investigation are responsible to ensure production of PWs on each and every date,” the judge said, adding that such “negligent conduct” of the lawyers and prosecution/investigation was the main reason of the delay in this trial. The case was put off to April 4.

An FIR was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substance Act read with Sections 11-N and 11-I of the Anti-Terrorism Act by the Counter-Terrorism Department.

In April last year, accused Sabir was acquitted in a case lodged by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for possessing a hand grenade within the jurisdiction of the Kalri police station in May 2022.