A Karachi court has sentenced the main accused, Atif Zaman, to two death penalties in the 2019 murder case of television anchor Mureed Abbas and his friend Khizar Hayat. The verdict was announced nearly seven years after the killings, concluding a lengthy trial that included forensic evidence and witness testimony.
The court also upheld the permanent arrest warrants for absconding co-accused Adil Zaman, who was declared a proclaimed offender after reportedly going into hiding following the rejection of his bail by the Supreme Court.
Court Announces Verdict After Lengthy Trial
The court convicted Atif Zaman on two counts of murder and imposed two death sentences. In addition, he was ordered to pay a fine of Rs1 million, which will be distributed equally among the families of the two victims. The court also ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional prison term.
The verdict was delivered after the prosecution presented forensic evidence, eyewitness testimony and other material during the trial. The court had reserved its judgment after hearing final arguments from both sides.
Co-Accused Remains Absconding
The court maintained the permanent arrest warrants for Adil Zaman, who remains at large.
According to court records, Adil Zaman absconded after the Supreme Court rejected his bail application and was subsequently declared a proclaimed offender.
Background of the Case
The case relates to the fatal shooting of television anchor Mureed Abbas and his friend Khizar Hayat on July 9, 2019, in the Bukhari Commercial area of Defence Phase VI, Karachi.
The incident attracted widespread public attention and remained one of Pakistan’s most closely followed criminal cases involving a media personality.
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