On Feb 3, a local court declared television and social media personality Waqar Zaka an ‘absconder.’ The development comes after he failed to appear for an on-going case, involving his accounts holding Rs86 million.
Here’s what happened:
Judicial Magistrate (East) Mukesh Kumar gave the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Investigation Officer instructions to begin the process of his proclamation. The case is in accordance with sections 87 and 88 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Argument by Zaka’s attorney:
Salahuddin Panhwar, Zaka’s attorney, submitted a third motion at the beginning of the hearing. He asked the court to excuse his client’s absence since he was in New York on business. The lawyer further requested for more time to make an argument regarding the maintainability of the plea.
Previously:
The magistrate noted that the attorney had previously been urged to persuade the court that his applications to excuse Mr. Zaka’s absence were maintainable. Mr. Zaka had neither appeared in person before the court nor been granted bail. He therefore rejected the three identical applications because they lacked merit.
What else:
The IO submitted a report noting that due to the suspect’s unknown whereabouts, the non-bailable warrants issued by the court for his arrest could not be executed. After taking Zaka’s confession, the magistrate ruled him to be a fugitive, noting that ‘there is no imminent possibility of his apprehension in near future.’
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