KARACHI: A local court in Karachi has ordered the transfer of the Nazim Jokhio murder case to an anti-terrorism court (ATC) for the initiation of a trial against two PPP lawmakers and their servants nominated in the case challan.
Judicial magistrate Malir announced the decision while issuing the written orders in response to the final challan submitted by the police. In the order, the magistrate stated that the court “does not agree” with the challan submitted by the police.
“The court agrees with the December 13, 2021 observation of the additional district and sessions judge of trying the case in an anti-terrorism court,” said the order, while returning the challan to the investigation officer of the case.
“The challan of the case should be presented before the relevant anti-terrorism court,” said the magistrate. The court also ordered that the accused should be produced before the anti-terrorism court and said that a copy of the court order should also be sent to the superintendent of the Malir Jail.
Nazim, was found tortured to death at PPP MPA Jam Awais’ farmhouse in the outskirts of Karachi’s Malir on November 3 last year. His relatives have accused Awais, his brother, PPP MNA Jam Abdul Karim, and their henchmen of torturing Nazim to death for resisting houbara bustard hunting by the lawmakers’ Arab guests.
In the final charge sheet submitted to the court under section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) last month, investigating officer (IO) Inspector Siraj Lashari had nominated nine suspects.
Five of the nominated suspects, namely MPA Jam Awais, Hyder Ali, Meer Ali, Muhammad Mairaj and Jamal Ahmed alias Jamal Wahid are in detention and the remaining four suspects, MNA Jam Abdul Karim, Niaz Salar, Atta Muhammad and Zahid have been declared absconders.
The IO has nominated them under charges of committing premeditated murder, attempting to destroy the evidence and intimidating the victim’s family.
He has, however, removed the kidnapping and abetment charges from the final challan. He has also discharged the names of six persons, namely Abdul Razzaque, Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Saleem, Muhammad Doda alias Dada, Muhammad Soomar, Ahmed Khan, from the final challan, maintaining that no evidence has been found against them.
