ATC records statements of witnesses in Pervez Mehmood murder case

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday recorded statements of three witnesses in murder case of Dr Pervez Mehmood, a former Town Nazim of Liaquatabad affiliated with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).

A witness while recording his statement said that the police had called me at police station when accused Masood alias Kala was arrested.

“The accused you had seen at the police station is present in the court”, the judge asked the witness. “Yes, he is the same, which I saw at the police station at that time,” the witness replied.

Police officials told me that the accused has confessed firing in the incident, the witness said.

The court summoned more witnesses in the next hearing of the case. The witnesses included the complainant and police officers.

The court adjourned the case hearing until April 04.

In an earlier hearing, the jail officials produced Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) hitman, Masood Ali alias ‘Kala’ before the court. Police told the court that Masood was an important member of the MQM’s target killer team.

Dr Pervez Mehmood, a leader of Jamaat-i-Islami and former Liaquatabad Town Nazim, was gunned down along with his associate in North Nazimabad area on September 18, 2012.

Police said the incident took place near KDA Chowrangi when assailants riding a motorcycle fired multiple gunshots at Dr Pervaiz Mehmood’s car.

His associate, identified as Saleemullah, died on the spot while Dr Mehmood died of his injuries during treatment in Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.