 | | Azam Tariq, who remains in stable condition at the boneyard |
Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Manzoor Ahmed Mirza on Saturday reserved judgment on the Maulana Azam Tariq murder case and the court would announce its decision on November 27. During proceedings in Adiala Jail, the complainant's counsel, Basharatullah, said two witnesses, Sheikh Imran and Muhammad Imtiaz, recorded their statements before the court. Both witnesses said the plan to murder Azam Tariq, a National Assembly member, was made by Allama Sajid Naqvi, president of the Pakistan Islami Tehreek, Amanullah Sial, former National Assembly member, and Sabtain Kazmi (a proclaimed offender) at the residence of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the president of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).
[Pandemonium]
"[BANG! BANG!] Order! Order in the court!"
"Yer honor! I object! You shot the witness!"
[More pandemonium] |
 | | Qazi Hussein Ahmad, the Man Who Would Be Khalif |
The counsel also said the main accused did not surrender to the court after cases were registered against them. He said, "Allama Sajid Naqvi was arrested by Rawalpindi Police 36 days after the case was registered while police arrested Amanullah Sial five months after the FIR was lodged. Their conduct indicates their involvement in the murder." Basharatullah also said Liaqat Baloch, a National Assembly member and MMA deputy secretary general, appeared in court and confirmed that the accused were present at Qazi Hussain Ahmed's residence when Azam Tariq's murder was being discussed, as other witnesses had said.
| Liaqat's implicating Qazi? [Cognitive dissonance] |
He said evidence indicated that there was a sectarian animosity between Azam Tariq and Allama Sajid Naqvi and Amanullah Sial. He said the accused should be severely punished.
Naqvi's obviously being sold down the river. I wonder if Qazi and his henchmen are turning state's evidence here? They don't seem to be in jug... [Picture begins to come together]
[Insert mental picture of two dead buzzards, one bloodied stone] |
Defence counsels Mazahib Naqvi and Zulfiqar Naqvi said the Azam Tariq murder case was registered after a long delay and their clients were implicated in the case with the connivance of area police. They said Alam Tariq, the younger brother of Azam Tariq and the complainant in the case, was not in Islamabad when the incident took place. They said the two witnesses were active members of outlawed religious organisation Sipah-e-Sahaba and lived close to Azam Tariq. They said the prosecution failed to produce any substantive evidence indicating that their clients were involved in the murder. As such, their clients should be exonerated, they concluded. |