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Hijacking case accused to be shifted into city

KARACHI: Advocate General Sindh (AGS) Raja Qureshi said on Tuesday that all the accused in October 12 plane hijacking case including former prime minister Nawaz Sharif are being shifted from Malir jail to a place near the court premises to save commuting time and distance.

Talking to newsmen after adjournment of hearing of the hijacking case in the court of Judge Rahmat Hussain Jaferi, the AGS said that the accused would soon be shifted to the city at a suitable place to ensure their production in the court on time.

"The accused would continue to remain in judicial custody," he added.

At present the case is being tried at the ATC premises located at the auditorium in the building of Municipal Training Centre in Clifton. The spacious auditorium has enough room to accommodate visitors, relatives of the accused, independent observers and the media.

Qureshi said that the Anti-Terrorism law requires day-to-day hearing and after a mutual consensus between defence and prosecution and with the permission of the judge it has been decided that from the next week the case hearing would continue from 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. for four days a week.

Giving schedule of the hearing, the AG said that the court will hear the case from Wednesday to Saturday every week. Hearing will start at 8.30 a.m. with a break at 10.30 a.m. It will resume hearing from 11 a.m. till 1.00 p.m. with one hour lunch break. It will again sit at 2.00 p.m. till 5.00 p.m.

He said that after framing of charges the trial of the case can be started immediately.

He said the prosecution is ready to examine all the witnesses. He hoped that the charges will be framed by Wednesday. APP