SHC orders speeding up Suleman Lashari murder trial

Karachi 

The Sindh High Court directed an anti-terrorism court on Friday to expedite proceedings in the murder case of O-level student Suleman Lashari, who was shot dead in his Defence house more than two years ago.

The directive came during a hearing of a petition of Ghulam Mustafa Lashari, the devastated father of the victim, who complained of slow progress in the proceedings and sought an expeditious trial. 

Eighteen-year-old Lashari was killed by SSP Ghulam Sarwar Abro’s son, Salman Abro, and his son’s police guards in the Defence area on May 8, 2014. Police said that Abro barged into Lashari’s house with five police constables late at night and shot him dead to “settle” an argument over a vehicle overtaking issue.

Abro was injured himself when a guard deployed at Lashari’s house and the victim’s brother, Zeeshan, retaliated. A police constable, who was one of the guards accompanying key suspect, was also killed in the exchange of fire.

In his contempt application, the victim’s father accused the prosecutor and investigation officer of the case delaying the trial. He alleged that IO Mobin was deliberately delaying proceedings by employing different tactics in order to favour the accused, Abro.

 His lawyer said that only two witnesses had been examined in the court so far despite the lapse of more than two years.

The lawyer said the SHC had directed the investigator last year to ensure that the witnesses were produced before the relevant court at every hearing amid adequate security. The trial court was also directed to ensure that no adjournment was granted to the prosecutor, he said.