Two ‘target killers’ plead not guilty

Karachi

Two alleged target killers said to be activists of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) plead not guilty to three murder charges as they were indicted by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday 

Abdul Qadir Hangoro and Syed Naeem stand accused of killing three people – a man named Sarwar in 2012, and two others, Abdul Karim and Zubair, in July 2013 – but have plead not guilty to all three murder charges. 

Both men were arrested by the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh after the paramilitary force’s March 11 raid on the MQM headquarters, Nine-Zero. 

Following yesterday’s proceedings, notices were issued to the case investigation officer (IO) and witnesses concerned to appear in court and record their evidence at the next hearing.

Weapons charges

Another MQM worker, Asif Tanoli, has also been indicted by an ATC in a case of possession of illegal weapons and explosive material. 

Tanoli, who was arrested on April 16, 2014 within the Shah Latif police limits, also plead not guilty, and the IO and witnesses have been called in for the next hearing.     

 

Medical complex case

The Provincial Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday indicted three former officials of the Works and Services Department and a builder in a corruption case related to the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical Complex.  The four accused – Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Jameel Memon and a constructor named Yasir – all plead not guilty to charges of misappropriating Rs235 million from funds allocated for the shifting of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical Complex from Bin Qasim to Gadap Town. 

The four had taken the plea that as no proof was presented before the court against them, they deserved to be acquitted of the charges. 

However, the court rejected their stance while considering a report submitted by the provincial anti-corruption department that cited the four as being involved in the misappropriation of project funds. 

The court has summoned the prosecution witnesses to come and record their evidence against the accused at the next hearing.