Morai seeks acquittal in ex-PSM chief murder case  

The Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) on Tuesday called in comments from the special public prosecutor on a plea by former Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) chairperson Nisar Ahmed Memon alias Nisar Morai for acquittal in the murder case of former Pakistan Steel Mills chief Sajjad Hussain.

Morai, who is out on bail, appeared in court yesterday to plead his case for acquittal. Following his comments, the court directed the prosecutor concerned to appear at the next hearing to tender arguments on Morai’s acquittal plea. 

It may be mentioned that former president Asif Ali Zardari was also accused of involvement in the murder of Sajjad Hussain, which took place in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) in 1998. 

However, the charges could not be proved and he was consequently acquitted. 

Morai, who was arrested in Islamabad in March 2016, is said to have close links with the top leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). 

After his arrest, the paramilitary force kept him under detention for 90 days and it was claimed that he had admitted his involvement in Sajjad Hussain’s murder during interrogation.

After serving a period in judicial remand, Morai was admitted to hospital due to an illness and was later granted bail on humanitarian grounds.

Morai is also accused of involvement in operating an extortion ring at the FCS, allegedly in order to fund gangsters and militants.

ATC hearings

The ATC hearing cases pertaining to charges of provocative speeches and attacks on media houses allowed an application by MQM-Pakistan leader Qaman Mansoor to decrease the surety sums in his four cases. 

The court ordered him to deposit rupees Rs1 million each in two cases instead of Rs4 million and also deposit Rs500,000 each in two other cases instead of Rs2 million.

Meanwhile, the administrative judge of the ATCs approved physical remand till March 31 of Qari Javed, a suspect in an attack on slain SSP Chaudhry Aslam and other terror activities. 

The court was informed that Javed was involved in a bomb blast in the area of the Saudabad police station and another attack on the CID Civil Lines police station. Besides, the court was told, he had confessed to attacking SSP Aslam.