KARACHI, July 28: A sessions court on Saturday issued a notice to the public prosecutor on an acquittal application of chief of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (Haqiqi) Afaq Ahmed for Aug 16 in a murder case.

The court also reserved its order on a bail plea of a co-accused in the same case.

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

The acquittal application was moved under Section 265-K (power to acquit accused at any stage) of the criminal procedure code by the MQM-H chief’s lawyer.

While issuing a notice for Aug 16, Additional District and Sessions Judge (south) Javed Ahmed Keerio, who is conducting the trial inside the judicial complex (central prison), also reserved his order on the bail application of co-accused Asim for pronouncement till July 31.

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

A case (FIR 222/09) was registered under Sections 302 (premeditated murder), 324 (attempted murder), 109 (punishment of 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.