The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday issued fresh notice to former Punjab Assembly member Bilal Mustafa Khar, the prime suspect in Fakhra Younus acid attack case, to respond on a petition seeking reopening of the acid attack case.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar heard the petition jointly filed by three NGOs – Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, Shirkat Gah and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum through which they sought effective implementation of criminal laws for investigation of crimes against women, particularly acid attack cases.
During previous hearing, the court had issued notice to Mustafa Khar through Punjab IG when it was informed that Bilal was arrested by Kot Addu police in an attack case and currently was in custody of Punjab Police.
When the matter came up for hearing on Monday, none appeared on behalf of respondent – Bilal nor were the comments filed despite issuance of notice. Therefore, the court issued fresh notice to Bilal through Punjab IG for January 26, 2015. It also directed him to ensure that notice is served to Bilal and file compliance report at next hearing.
Fakhra had committed suicide by jumping off the sixth floor of her apartment in the Italian city of Rome on March 17, 2012. Her husband Bilal Khar, son of former Punjab governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar, had allegedly burned her face with acid in 2000.
Advocate Faisal Siddiqui representing petitioners said that Bilal, who attacked her wife in May 2000, was arrested after a delay of nearly two years and finally acquitted by a sessions judge in South Karachi on December 16, 2003 on lack of evidence. He said Bilal was acquitted as four eyewitnesses could not identify him in court. The counsel said judgment was based on erroneous information and it was given without fulfilling legal requirements. It was an illegal judgment and the case shall be reopened, he added.