Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Jam Awais has been officially charged with the murder of Nazim Jokhio, an investigating officer said to the court — nearly two months after the alleged crime. MNA Jam Abdul Karim, brother to the MPA, and four others were declared as absconders.
In the final investigation report, Investigating officer (IO) Inspector Siraj Lashari cited sufficient evidence to prove that in the early morning hours of November 3, Jokhio was tortured to death at the Jam House in Malir, Sindh. Kidnapping charges were dropped from the report.
Awais has been charged with murdering the 27-year-old Nazim under under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), according to The News.
Five other men have also been charged in the crime. MNA Karim and his servant, Niaz Salar, have been charged with abduction, intimidating the family of the victim, and concealing evidence or giving false information.
Alleged accomplices Muhammad Meraj, Atta Muhammad and Zahid, were charged under Section 201 for causing evidence to disappear or giving false information. Jamal Ahmed, alias Jamal, stands accused of criminal intimidation under Section 506-B.
Charges were dropped against six of the Jam brothers’ associates.
Nazim Jokhio was allegedly killed after he confronted the defendants about their Arab guests hunting the Houbara bustard bird in Thatta’s Achaar Salaar Goth, a sport only permitted with prior government permit.
“Nazim questioned the Arab Sheikh about having a hunting permit which led to an altercation between the two. The latter broadcasted it live on Facebook which was when the foreigner snatched the mobile phone from him,” the investigating officer said.
After the video of the avian hunting expedition went viral, he was allegedly summoned by Awais and his co-conspirators to Jam Awais’ farmhouse in Karachi’s Malir, where he was tortured and later found dead on November 3rd.
