The investigating officer tells the court that he does not have full knowledge of the case or its investigation.
KARACHI:
An additional district and sessions judge on Friday expressed anger over lack of evidence and ordered police to record YouTuber Rajab Butt’s statement in a case related to alleged insult of Islamic symbols.
At the beginning of the hearing, the defense attorney informed the court that the investigator on the case had died, which had prevented the defendant from joining the investigation. The court later summoned the investigation officer (IO) of Hyderi police station and adjourned the hearing till 11:30 am.
When the hearing resumed, the presiding judge expressed his anger with the IO for the absence of the recorded statement and relevant evidence. “Where is the complete case file and relevant evidence?” the judge asked.
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The judge also questioned why the defendant’s statement, whose recording had been ordered at the previous hearing, was not available.
The investigating officer told the court that he was not fully aware of the case or its investigation. The court then directed the SSP Investigation Center to record the statement of the accused, Rajab Butt.
During the process there was an exchange of words between the defense lawyer and the judge. The defense lawyer claimed that no order had been made on his application under section 196, calling it an illegal act.
The judge responded that the process would not proceed according to the lawyer’s wishes and advised that if there was no confidence an application could be made to transfer the case.
The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing until April 24.
The case against Rajab Butt was registered at the Hyderi Market police station. In December, he was attacked by a group of lawyers at the Karachi Municipal Court after a hearing in a similar case.
The attack took place after Butt appeared before an additional district and sessions judge, who heard his bail application but adjourned the proceedings without any substantive order.
