Announcement of Mohajir Qaumi Movement chief Afaq Ahmed’s bail plea was put off again by Additional District Sessions Judge Sageer Ahmed Shaikh. The applicant’s lawyer had completed arguments on May 22, and the judge had previously set June 9 as the date when a verdict will be announced. The case pertains to a murder that tool place in 2009, an incident reported in the jurisdiction of Nabi Bux Police Station. The complainant, Shahzad Ahmed, had lodged an FIR stating that he was on his way home with his friend Junaid, when accused Asim and Talat opened fire at them. Both men were wounded but a passer-by, Ateeq Rehman, died on the spot.
According to the complainant, the accused were acting on Ahmed’s directions. Ahmed’s counsel argued that the case is politically-motivated, and his client was in incarceration in Karachi Central Prison when the incident took place. He further argued that the investigation officer of the case had also declared Ahmed as innocent. The same court had earlier rejected a plea under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code regarding withdrawal of the case against Ahmed. The MQM chief’s counsels then filed a criminal revision at Sindh High Court against the order, which is currently under proceeding.
