Karachi ATC Acquits Five Accused in Orangi Town Killing Case
KARACHI: A Karachi ATC acquittal on Wednesday saw five accused cleared of involvement in the killing of a union committee (UC) chairman belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party in Orangi Town, according to Dawn.
The UC chairman, Amir Bhashani, was gunned down on April 17, 2025 by armed motorcyclists in a suspected targeted attack near Bismillah Chowk in Orangi Town.
Karachi ATC acquittal over lack of evidence
The case was registered under terrorism and murder charges by the Pakistan Bazaar police. Police later claimed to have arrested Shehzad, Muhammad Aleem, Muhammad Jameel Zia, Muhammad Hammad Siddiqui and Shahbaz, and submitted a charge sheet against them.
After hearing arguments from the state prosecutor and defence counsel Abid Zaman and Hyder Farooq Jatoi, the ATC-VI judge acquitted the accused persons for lack of evidence against them.
According to the prosecution, Shahbaz and Shehzad were arrested in an illegal weapon possession case and during interrogation allegedly confessed to their involvement in the killing of the UC chairman. In their alleged confessional statements to the police, they implicated the other accused, claiming that, at the instigation of their elders, they had conducted a recce of the deceased and provided information to their accomplices.
Police claim of planned killing
The police had earlier claimed that the killing was planned a week before it took place over “land and financial matters”. A case was registered at the Pakistan Bazar police station under Sections 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997.
The acquittal adds to a series of high-profile court outcomes in the province. The Sindh High Court recently set aside a 10-year sentence in another case, while the Supreme Court threw out a plea to revisit the Baldia factory fire acquittals.
Anti-terrorism courts in the region continue to handle politically sensitive cases, including the indictment of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha and the reserved verdict in the Sidra case.
What happens after an acquittal
An acquittal does not necessarily end the legal road. In Pakistan’s system, the prosecution can challenge an ATC acquittal before a higher court, and such appeals are a routine feature of terrorism and murder trials. Whether the state pursues that route in the Bhashani case will determine if Wednesday’s verdict is the final word.
Frequently asked questions
Who was acquitted in the Orangi Town case?
Five accused, Shehzad, Muhammad Aleem, Muhammad Jameel Zia, Muhammad Hammad Siddiqui and Shahbaz, were acquitted by the ATC-VI judge in Karachi.
Why were they acquitted?
The court found a lack of evidence against them after hearing the state prosecutor and the defence counsel.
When was Amir Bhashani killed?
The PPP UC chairman was gunned down on April 17, 2025 by armed motorcyclists near Bismillah Chowk in Orangi Town, Karachi, in what police described as a suspected targeted attack.
Can the acquittal be appealed?
Yes. The prosecution can challenge an ATC acquittal before a higher court, a routine step in terrorism and murder trials in Pakistan.
