An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) at Karachi’s Central Jail has acquitted three Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers, including former sector in-charge Raees alias Mamma, Rizwan Chapati and Umair, in a case related to the May 12, 2007 tragedy, ruling that the accused could not be convicted in the case.During the hearing, the prosecution maintained that Raees alias Mamma and Rizwan Chapati had confessed to the crime in statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, defence counsel Mushtaq Ahmed argued that the prosecution had failed to present solid evidence linking the accused to the incident.The defence further contended that witnesses’ statements contained contradictions, the alleged confessional statements did not fulfil the mandatory legal requirements, and no witness had identified the accused at the crime scene.After hearing the arguments, the court acquitted all three accused, bringing relief to the men who had faced trial in the case. Their acquittal means they could not be held criminally liable on the evidence presented before the court.The Airport Police had registered the case on May 12, 2007, following the deadly violence that erupted in Karachi on the day of the arrival of then-Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.Meanwhile, six other cases related to the May 12 tragedy remain pending against former Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar and others.
