KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday formally indicted seven individuals, including a former Station House Officer (SHO), in the murder case of Naqeebullah Mehsud, marking a significant development in one of Karachi’s most high-profile cases.
During the ATC hearing, former SHO Amanullah Marwat and other accused, namely Fida Hussain, Sadaqat, Riaz, Raja Shamim, and Mohsin Abbas, were presented before the court. Shoaib alias Shooter, a prime suspect who had previously secured bail, also made an appearance.
The court proceeded to formally charge all seven suspects, who collectively entered pleas of not guilty. In response, the ATC judge scheduled the next hearing and summoned the investigation officer along with witnesses to present their testimony.
These accused individuals, initially facing murder allegations, had gone into hiding but later surrendered themselves before the court, leading to their current indictment.
It is noteworthy that in January of the previous year, the ATC acquitted former SSP Malir Rao Anwar and other accused in the same high-profile murder case. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to substantiate charges against Rao Anwar and the other accused. However, the court’s verdict maintained that Naqeebullah Mehsud was ‘extra-judicially murdered.’
Naqeebullah Mehsud, aged 27, lost his life on January 13, 2018, in Karachi during a staged police encounter in the city’s Malir district. The case has garnered significant public attention, and the latest development reflects a crucial step in the legal proceedings surrounding the incident.
