Pakistan paramilitary men face terror charges for killing youth

Islamabad, July 3, IRNA - A Pakistani court Saturday ruled that six paramilitary officials will be tried in anti-terrorism court for the killing of an unarmed 19-year-old youth in Karachi last month, court officials said.

The paramilitary soldiers were arrested for shooting and killing Sarfaraz Shah in a public park in Karachi, an incident that sparked outrage across Pakistan.

The government had moved a petition in a local court seeking transfer of the case from the anti-terrorism court to civil court.

The anti-terrorism court has identified one paramilitary official, Shahid Zafar as the one who fired at Shah who was then left to die on road on June 8.

Public prosecutor Mohammad Khan Buriro told reporters that the court has formally framed charges of murder and terrorism against all the accused.

The Supreme Court had ordered the removal of the police chief and head of the paramilitary force in Sindh of which Karachi is the capital so they could not influence the trial.

Anger was high in Pakistan after TV channels aired camera footage showing the rangers officials point blank killing a pleading and crying Shah who was earlier accused of being a criminal.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has issued orders to the Anti-terrorism court to hear the case on fast track and give a judgement on the case within a month's time.

Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso in the anti-terrorism hears the case on daily basis as the Supreme Court has set a month deadline to deliver a verdict.

The judge has already charged the accused formally. The paramilitary soldiers after hearing the Judge said they didn't accept the murder charges against them and the incident was accidental and not a murder./end