All the six accused belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party Shaheed Bhutto group (PPP- SB) were exonerated of charges of murder in relation to killing of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, Ashique Hussain Jatoi and six other workers and supporter of their own party.
Dr Mazhar Ali Memon, Asghar Ali, Mehmood Bhallai, Akhtar Mirani, Ghulam Mustafa and Asif Jatoi stood trial. They were accused of firing at a police party which cautioned cavalcade of Mir Murtaza Bhutto on September 20, 1996 when he was returning from Yousuf Goth Karachi after addressing a meeting of the party organised by District West wing.
The prosecution alleged that on the orders of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, his men heavily armed with automatic weapons opened fire at the police party resulting in the killing of eight persons (of their own side). Only two police officers including complainant of this FIR, the then SHO Clifton PS Haq Nawaz Sial sustained a injury in his feet besides the then ASP Shahid Hayat who allegedly received an injury in his thigh area.
Announcing the verdict this morning, Additional District and Sessions Judge East, Aftab Ahmed exonerated the accused of charges of murder, attacking a police party with intention to kill, possessing illegal arms etc. The detailed written judgement spread over 100 pages and will be available later, court sources told APP.
The same court is likely to announce judgement in the main case ie FIR lodged by widows of deceased Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Ashique Hussain Jatoi, through Noor Muhammad servant of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, on Saturday (December 5). He was complainant of second FIR of the incident lodged on the orders of High Court of Sindh.