Prosecution rests in Shahzeb murder case

Karachi

The prosecution has rested its case in the Shahzeb Khan murder after the court noted that the investigation officer had recorded his complete statement and was also cross-examined by the defence attorneys.

An anti-terrorism court, headed by Ghulam Mustafa Memon, announced it would hear the case of the defence from the next date of hearing on April 29.

The suspects, Shahrukh Jatoi, Siraj Ali Talpur, Sajjad Ali Talpur (both brothers) and their employee, Ghulam Murtaza Lashari, were produced before the court. The case of the defence was being pleaded by Advocates Shaukat Zubedi, Wazeer Khoso and others, who rejected the stance of IO Inspector Mubeen Ahmed that their clients were involved in the murder of Shahzeb Khan in December 2012.

The IO had earlier told the court that the case was transferred to him from the first investigating officer (Sub Inspector Nafees Ahmed) in the first week of January 2013.

Mubeen stated that he had arrested three suspects – Siraj Talpur, Sajjad Talpur and Ghulam Mustafa Lashari – from Dadu and brought them to Karachi after verifying the statements of all the witnesses. The suspects were also presented before a judicial magistrate for the identification parade, where witnesses identified them and recorded their statements under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Mubeen Ahmed concluded.

On January 15, Siraj and others pointed out the location where the shooting took place, Mubeen told the court.

The prime suspect, Shahrukh Jatoi, was arrested from Karachi Airport on January 17. Following the arrest, Shahrukh was presented before the court for the identification parade, during which he was identified by a couple of eyewitnesses, the IO highlighted.

Subsequently, Shahrukh also pinpointed the location of the murder and helped recover the weapon used in the crime that was concealed beneath the trunk, the officer maintained.