KARACHI: A sessions court has acquitted K-Electric’s chief executive officer and three others in a case pertaining to the death of a citizen allegedly from electrocution in Defence Housing Authority.

KE CEO Syed Moonis Alvi, distribution head Sheikh Amir Zia, senior security officer of Defence Integrated Business Centre (IBC) Faheemuddin and assistant manager Awaiz Nawaz were booked for their alleged involvement in a manslaughter case about the death of 19-year-old Faizan, who was electrocuted at the power utility’s sub-station in DHA’s Phase-VII on Aug 11 this year.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (South) Aurangzeb Shah pronounced his order on an acquittal application filed by all the suspects through their counsel.

During the hearing, Faheemuddin and Nawaz appeared in court on bail while Alvi and Zia were called absent.

However, defence counsel moved an application pleading to the court to condone the applicants’ appearance. The judge allowed the application.

The judge wrote in the order: “Complainant of the case is also present and filed affidavit to the extent that he has no objection if the accused persons are acquitted under Section 265-K CrPC which is placed on record.

“Heard arguments on application under Section 265-K CrPC from the learned Deputy District Public Prosecutor and the learned defence counsel. Order passed and announced in open court.

“All the accused persons are acquitted under section 265-K CrPC and case stands disposed off accordingly,” the order said.

Earlier, the investigating officer of the case had informed the court that both the parties had reached an out-of-court settlement. Therefore, the IO had filed a C-class (cancelled) investigation report.

The FIR regarding the death of 19-year-old Faizan, who was electrocuted reportedly while taking a photo, was registered at the Defence police station on the complaint of his uncle, Mohammad Fayyaz.

It stated that Faizan, who hailed from district Mansehra and worked in the transport sector, drove to Karachi on August 10 and spent the night at his uncle’s residence in the Qayyumabad neighbourhood. He was said to have mistakenly entered the KE sub-station, where he received an electric shock that proved fatal.

Three get life term

A sessions court has handed down life imprisonment to three accused persons in a murder case.

Accused Saifullah, Mohammad Usman and Abdul Sami were found guilty of murdering Abdul Rehman during a robbery bid on May 7, 2017 on University Road.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Javed Iqbal of the model criminal trial court (East) pronounced the verdict.

The judge also ordered the convicts to pay Rs200,000 as compensation to the legal heirs of the victim.

The judge further sentenced each convict to seven-year imprisonment for committing an armed robbery and sharing common intention.

State prosecutor Mohammad Ashraf Bhatti argued that Rehman was going on a picnic with his friends when armed motorcyclists tried to snatch his mobile phone and fired at him when he put up resistance.

He further argued that the victim had received one bullet in the head and died during treatment at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

He said that there was sufficient evidence to connect the accused persons with the commissioning of the offence and pleaded to punish them strictly in accordance with the law.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2020