KARACHI, May 8: A division bench of the Sindh High Court comprising Justice Muhammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery on Tuesday reserved judgment on a state appeal against the acquittal of banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi chief Akram Lahori and his two associates in a sectarian murder case.

Muhammad Ajmal alias Akram Lahori, Mohammed Azam and Ataullah were acquitted by ATC-V Judge Haq Nawaz Baloch giving the benefit of doubt on January 17, 2007.

They were tried for killing Agha Abbas, owner of the Agha Juice Centre, and injuring his employee Gula Zaman on May 25, 2002, in Rizvia Society.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the trial court, state filed appeal against the acquittal in the SHC and prayed it to set aside the trial court order and convict the respondents for the crime they had committed.

The defence counsel, supporting the trial court judgment, stated that the prosecution had failed to establish its case against the appellants in the trial court and its evidences were full of contradictions. He opposed the state appeal against the acquittal and prayed that it be dismissed.The SHC's division bench, after hearing closing arguments of both counsels, reserved the judgment.

Meanwhile, the same division bench adjourned the hearing of a banned LJ activist's appeal against the conviction in the Masjid-e-Hyderi bomb blast case.

Gul Hasan alias Ali Haider was sentenced to death by an anti-terrorism court on June 4, 2005 for masterminding the suicide bombing at Masjid-e-Hyderi in Sindh Madrassatul Islam. The attack claimed 23 lives and caused injuries to 98 others on May 7, 2004.

According to the prosecution, Gul Hassan left the suicide bomber with a briefcase of explosives at the Hyderi Masjid. He was present in a nearby mosque.

ACQUITTAL: Another division bench comprising Justice Muhammad Afzal Soomro and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery on Tuesday dismissed an appeal against the acquittal of four men and upheld the trial court order in a murder case.