Court dismisses bail plea of TV anchor’s alleged killer

A sessions court on Saturday dismissed a second bail application filed by the main accused in a case pertaining to the murder of TV anchorperson Mureed Abbas and his friend over financial transactions.

Atif Zaman had been charged with killing his two business partners Mureed Abbas and Khizar Hayat in the Bukhari Commercial area of Defence on July 10, 2019.

Additional Sessions Judge (South) Abdul Hafeez Lashari, who is conducting the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, announced his order on the bail plea of the accused after hearing arguments from both sides. He ruled that the accused was not entitled to concession of bail and therefore dismissed his bail application.

The defence lawyer contended that the accused has been behind bars for more than five years and the trial has not concluded yet. He said his client deserved to be released on bail on the ground of delay in the conclusion of the trial.

On the other hand, the state prosecutor as well as the complainant's lawyer opposed the bail, arguing that there was sufficient evidence to link the accused with the commission of the offence.

An FIR was lodged at the Darakhshan police station under Section 302 (premeditated murder) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the anchorperson's wife Sidra Abbas.