Witnesses In Zain Murder Case Turned Hostile, Prosecution Tells SC
According to the prosecution team in Zain murder case the witnesses retracted their original statements after receiving money from the prime accused Mustafa Kanju, who is son of a former federal minister. A hostile witness, otherwise known as an adverse witness or an unfavorable witness, is a witness at trial whose testimony on direct examination is either openly antagonistic or appears to be contrary to the legal position of the party who called the witness.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim commenced suo motu hearing in relation to the acquittal of the accused in the Zain murder case. The court was told by the prosecution that majority of the witness were property dealers by profession who changed their statements after receiving money from the culprit. Additional Advocate General Punjab b Razzaq A Mirza further informed the court that the provincial government would file a petition against the acquittal of the five accused in the Lahore High Court. The Court further inquired about the availability of evidence against the accused which could lead to possible sentence to which the prosecution replied that the court has not properly analyzed the investigation officer’s report and that evidence is present under which the accused could be sentenced.
The hearing was adjourned to November 16 with orders to Inspector General Punjab to present the relatives and witnesses under security in the next hearing.
