LAHORE - An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday indicted accused, Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali in Motorway gang-rape case. The accused pleaded not guilty and contended to contest the charges, said Deputy Prosecutor General Hafiz Asghar.
Hafiz told mediamen that the court recorded statements of 10 prosecution witnesses, including car mechanic, Dolphin Squad member, doctor, after the accused denied the charges.
Subsequently, the court adjourned further proceedings till today (Thursday, March 4) and summoned more prosecution witnesses on the next date of hearing, he added. ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta conducted the case hearing at the Camp Jail, wherein jail authorities produced Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali, prime accused and co-accused.
The Gujjarpura police had filed a challan against the accused, wherein they were declared guilty. The police had requested the court for awarding strict punishment to the accused as sufficient
evidence was available against them. The police had also submitted a list of 53 witnesses. On September 9, the accused Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali, allegedly raped a woman at gunpoint in Gujjarpura area while she was waiting for help on the Motorway after her car ran out of fuel.
An FIR of the incident was lodged with the Gujjarpura police under various Sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
LHC adjourns hearing of
Babar Azam’s plea
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday adjourned hearing of a petition, filed by skipper of national cricket team Babar Azam, challenging orders for registration of the case against him, for a month.
The court remarked that the matter would be heard after Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches. The single bench comprising Justice Asjad Javaid Ghural heard the petition filed by Babar Azam.
Babar Azam had assailed orders of Sessions Court, stating that the court had on January 14 ordered SHO Naseerabad to record the statement of Hamiza Mukhtar under Section 154 of CrPC and proceed as per law, while disposing of her application for registration of case against him for allegedly raping, harassing and blackmailing her.
He submitted that the judge ignored case facts and did not apply his judicial mind while deciding the case.
He submitted that Hamiza Mukhtar had filed the false application with the intention of blackmailing him.
He submitted that the matter had been resolved after the parties reached a compromise in 2018. He submitted that the police had also reported that claims of Hamiza Mukhtar about threatening calls were not true. He pleaded with the court to set aside the orders being illegal. He requested to stop implementation of the orders till the final decision of the petition. It is pertinent to mention here that the LHC had suspended orders of the Sessions court for registration of the case.
Khokhar Palace: Court dismisses appeal against stay order by civil court
A Sessions Court on Wednesday dismissed an appeal challenging the stay order by a civil court against demolition of Khokhar Palace. The court ordered the civil court to record the statements of the witnesses and decide the matter. Additional District and Sessions Judge Haider Ali heard the appeal filed by Additional Commissioner. The Additional Commissioner had pleaded with the court to set aside the stay order against demolition of Khokhar palace by a civil court. It is pertinent to mention here that the court had already dismissed an appeal by the Lahore Development Authority for the purpose.