The Islamabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by accused Umar Hayat in the Sana Yousaf murder case. The court upheld the witness statements recorded via video link. It ruled that these statements are legally valid and authentic. This decision allows the trial to continue smoothly without restarting the evidence process.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro issued a clear nine-page verdict. He found no legal errors in the trial court’s actions. In fact, the judge noted that Umar Hayat attended hearings through video link. This method counts as proper attendance under the law. Therefore, all court records remain correct and reliable.
The ruling strongly supports faster trials. Trial courts must hold daily hearings to speed up justice. Under Article 10-A of the Constitution, everyone has the right to a quick trial. This protects the public interest as well. Moreover, lawyers should stay available in court. They must focus on case progress instead of personal convenience.
The court also addressed complaints against judges. It said that mere suspicions do not justify serious claims. If delays happen again, the accused will get a free state lawyer. In addition, the bench warned lawyers against unverified accusations in the future.
Clear Ruling on Key Evidence Issue
Umar Hayat wanted the witness statements thrown out. He claimed they were recorded without him or his lawyer present in person. However, the high court disagreed. It confirmed that video-link recording follows the rules. As a result, the court refused to order new recordings of the testimonies.
This verdict shows the judiciary’s focus on fair yet efficient proceedings. The Sana Yousaf murder case can now move ahead with the existing evidence. Many observers expect quicker progress in the trial court after this firm decision.
