June 06, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 01, 1429

KARACHI, June 5: The additional district and sessions judge-VI East, Abdul Razzaq, on Thursday recorded arguments from both sides on a bail application moved by the chief of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement, Afaq Ahmed, in a kidnapping and murder case and reserved his order till June 14.

Afaq Ahmed, Amir Khan and their associates were charged with kidnapping workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Mohammad Farooq, Mohammad Tahir, Salman and M. Anwar, in the limits of Landhi police station on June 19, 1992. Later, they allegedly killed Mohammad Farooq.

The defence counsel, Sohail Anjum, argued that his client was implicated in the case on political grounds and the prosecution had no evidence against Afaq Ahmed’s involvement in the case.

He said that the prosecution had so far produced only one witness in the court during the past four years, while there were 23 prosecution witnesses in the case.

However, the special public prosecutor opposing the plea argued that bail could not be granted until four witnesses testified in a case.

The police had registered a case (FIR No102/92) under Sections 147, 148, 149, 324, 364, 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Ismail Quershi. The hearing was held inside the central prison.