Two state prosecutors pursuing the killing of minority Shia Ismaili Muslims in Pakistan have stepped down from the case, in which 45 people were gunned down by ISIS militants in May, citing security reasons.
Advocates Muhammad Khan Buriro and Mubashar Mirza who have worked as prosecutors in anti-terrorism courts have stepped down from the case in which Kalashnikov-wielding IS militants had gunned down 45 Shia Muslims in Karachi on May 13.
Mirza said he and Buriro have stepped down as their grievances and concerns were not addressed by the provincial Sindh government.
The two lawyers had sent letters to the home department seeking protection by the paramilitary Rangers, a secure accommodation and advance release of their fees.
Mirza said they wanted the safety since the accused in the case were affiliated with a globally declared terrorist organisation al-Qaeda and the self-styled Islamic State group and it was almost impossible for them to pursue the case without proper security.
The government had only released Rs 1,50,000 each as their advance fees for such a high-profile case which has already garnered a lot of global media attention, sources said.
The anti-terrorism court trying the case has already decided to hold the hearings and trial in prison due to security issues.
Accused Tahir Hussain Minhas alias Sain, Saad Aziz alias Tin Tin, Asad-ur-Rehman alias Malik, Hafiz Nasir alias Yasir and Muhammad Azhar Ishrat alias Majid have been booked and arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing of 45 people of the Shia Ismaili community including 18 women in an armed attack on their bus near Safoora Goth area.
