ISLAMABAD - Additional Sessions Judge Atta Rabbani on Tuesday framed charges of torturing and stripping a couple against Usman Mirza and his seven co-accused in the case.
However, Usman Mirza and co-accused have pleaded “not-guilty” and asked the court for a trial.
The judge went ahead with framing the charges and asked the prosecution to produce witnesses before the court on the next hearing. The court issued notices to 21 witnesses in the case.
The court charged Usman Mirza and co-accused for detaining the couple illegally in a flat, torturing and stripping the couple and recording objectionable videos on mobile phones.
Meanwhile, the court also distributed copies of charge sheet among the accused including Usman Mirza, Hafiz Atta Ur Rehman, Adarus Qayyum Butt, Rehan, Umer Bilal Marwat, Farhan Hussain and Mohin Bangish.
Earlier, five accused were brought to court from Adiala Jail by the investigators of Golra police amid tight security. Whereas, two other accused namely Rehan and Umer Bilal Marwat appeared before court in response to a notice since they are on a bail granted by Islamabad High Court.
Accused Usman Mirza, while interacting with media men outside courtroom, said, “Go and tell the world that the guru has come in the court.” Later, police escorted him to courtroom for hearing of the case against him.
Police arrested the main culprit Usman Mirza and co-accused after filing a case against them on charges of detaining a couple in a flat in E-11/2 and stripping them naked besides recording their objectionable videos on mobile phone. The investigators of Golra police had declared guilty all the accused in a challan submitted before the court.
Meanwhile, a single bench of IHC directed a sessions court to conclude the trial of Usman Mirza and his accomplices in the couple harassment and torture case within two months.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani dismissed bail applications of three co-accused – Idrees Qayyum Butt, Hafiz Attaur Rehman and Farhan Shaheen.
The court announced its verdict after hearing arguments from defense counsel as well as the prosecution lawyers on the bail pleas of the accused.