The Karachi Police assured an anti-terrorism court on Tuesday that they will provide adequate protection to the key prosecution witnesses, who reportedly fear testifying against the detained accused, in renowned social activist Perween Rahman’s murder case.
Rahman, head of the Orangi Pilot Project, who devoted her life to the development of destitute neighbourhoods across the country, was shot dead near her office in Orangi Town on March 13, 2013.
Five men — Raheem Swati, his son Mohammad Imran Swati with three co-accused, Ayaz Shamzai, Amjad Hussain Khan and Ahmed Khan — have been charged with her murder.
The matter was fixed before the ATC-XIII judge on Tuesday and the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, including the private persons were to be recorded. However, none of them turned up before the court.
29 witnesses have been listed in the investigation report by the investigation officer, but only nine of them have been examined by the court so far. Notices have repeatedly been issued to the remaining 20 witnesses, including nine private persons, to appear and record their statements.
The counsel for the complainant Advocate Salahuddin Panhwar noted before the court that the prosecution witnesses did not appear to record their statements as they were reportedly facing security threats and the police had not yet taken any measures to provide security to them despite being issued directives by the court.
He pleaded the court to direct the West Range SSP to ensure security of the prosecution witnesses.
The court then asked the West Range SSP to provide adequate security to the prosecution witnesses as well as the counsel for the complainant as permissible under the law and fixed the next hearing on September 29.
Later, DSP Khalid appeared before the court and informed it that he had been deputed on behalf of the West Range DIG to provide required security to the prosecution witnesses and the complainant’s counsel, reassuring the court that necessary steps would be taken.
Recently, the court also dismissed bail applications of Raheem Swati, the main accused charged with planning and executing the murder, and his son Imran Swati, who has been charged with concealing information about the accused persons.
A case was registered under sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Pirabad police station.
Later, Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 was incorporated in the case on a directive of the Supreme Court that also had ordered a judicial inquiry into the case by the then district and sessions judge (West), Ghulam Mustafa Memon.
