Court adjourns retrial of Shahzeb Khan's murder case to January 5

A session court adjourned the retrial of Shahzeb Khan's murder case to January 5. As per the Sindh High Court's (SHC) order, a session’s court commenced the retrial of the Shahzeb Khan's murder case earlier this morning.

According to local media reports, the court remarked that both parties will be summoned to court regarding the pardon which Shahzeb Khan's parents, Aurangzeb Khan and Ambreen Aurangzeb had issued to the convicts. The pardon had been approved by SHC. The documents pertaining to the pardon as well as the high court’s order should also be submitted to court at the next hearing, the court directed.

The court also ordered a verified copy of SHC's order disposing the punishments against the accused.

On November 28, SHC had decided on a fresh trial of the case in a session’s court, disposing of the sentence handed to the accused.  The court had also ordered review of charges against Shahrukh Jatoi, the key suspect.

Son of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Shahzeb Khan, was gunned down on the night of December 24, 2012 in Karachi’s Defence Housing Society. Seven people, including Shahrukh Jatoi, Nawab Siraj Talpur, his brother Sajjad Talpur and their employee Murtaza Lashari were booked in the murder case.

SHC orders retrial in Shahzeb Khan murder case

Jatoi and his friend Siraj were sentenced to death by an Anti-Terrorism Court. While Sajjad and Lashari were awarded life in prison by an Anti-Terrorism Court. However, Jatoi, had challenged his sentence. He challenged that as he was a juvenile when he had committed the crime, he could not be tried under the anti-terrorism law.

Khan’s parent after a year had announced pardon for Jatoi and the three other convicts without receiving blood money. Parents of Khan, had also requested for the release of the four criminals involved.