KARACHI, Jan 5: A sessions court on Thursday directed police to produce private witnesses on Jan 19 in a murder case lodged against Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi chief Afaq Ahmed and others.

Mr Ahmed has been charged with abetting the killing of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement activist within the remit of the Nabi Bux police station in June 2009.

On Thursday, a policeman appeared before additional district and sessions judge (south) Javed Keerio, who was conducting the trial at the judicial complex in the central prison, for evidence. But the court directed the investigation officer to produce private witnesses before other prosecution witnesses (policemen).

According to the prosecution, Asim who is said to be an MQM-H worker with his absconding accomplices had allegedly killed Atiq-ur-Rehman and wounded his brother, Shahzad, in the Ramaswami area at the behest of Mr Ahmed.

A case (FIR 222/2009) was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempt to murder), 109 (abetment: if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code on a complaint of Shahzad at the Nabi Bux police station.

Meanwhile, the same court on Thursday also directed the investigation officers to produce private witnesses in a number of targeted killing cases against Shahnawaz alias Ajmal Pahari on next hearing.