KARACHI:
In a surprise move, senior lawyer Abid Zaman Advocate withdrew from representing Armughan Qureshi, the main accused in the Mustafa Amir kidnapping and murder case on Tuesday — the day an anti-terrorism court (ATC) extended the physical remand of Armughan until March 24.
As per reports, Abid Zaman Advocate, who had been serving as Armughan’s attorney, made the decision to step down, stating that the accused’s father, who is also a legal practitioner, has expressed the intention to take over the case and fight it personally. This surprising development comes at a critical juncture in the case, raising questions about the future legal strategy and the involvement of new counsel.
Earlier while appearing before ATC No 4 at the Jail Anti-Terrorism Complex, defence counsel Tahir-ur-Rehman Tanoli pleaded the judge call the accused’s mother as a witness, while fellow defence lawyer Khurram Abbas proposed that Kamran Qureshi, the accused’s father, be summoned to court. Advocate Tanoli assured the court that no disruptions would occur if the couple were allowed to attend.
The judge summoned both the accused’s parents to the hearing. Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Ali Arain informed the court that Kamran Qureshi had allegedly hurled threats at him. The judge inquired why no formal complaint had been filed under the Lawyers Protection Act, to which Arain confirmed that such an application had indeed been submitted.
The investigating officer (IO), Afsar Muhammad Ali, was questioned about whether a formal case had been registered. The IO confirmed that he had submitted the necessary paperwork. The court remarked on the delay in proceedings, stressing the consequences of such postponements.
In a tense moment, the judge also ordered the accused to sign a power of attorney, but Armughan refused, stating that he did not wish to appoint a lawyer.
