A Karachi court has sentenced Atif Zaman to two death penalties after finding him guilty of murdering television anchor Mureed Abbas and businessman Khizar Hayat in a high-profile case that dates back to 2019.
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The verdict was announced on Thursday by a court operating inside the Judicial Complex Jail in Karachi, nearly seven years after the killings. In addition to awarding two death sentences, the court also issued perpetual arrest warrants for co-accused Adil Zaman, who remains a proclaimed offender.
According to the prosecution, Mureed Abbas, 34, and Khizar Hayat, 45, were shot dead on July 9, 2019, in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) following a dispute over business and financial matters. Prosecutors said Atif Zaman opened fire on both men before attempting to take his own life. A case was subsequently registered against Atif and Adil Zaman at Darakhshan Police Station.
The court observed that Adil Zaman absconded after the Supreme Court of Pakistan revoked his bail in September 2020. He has since been declared a proclaimed offender, and authorities continue efforts to arrest him.
The case attracted widespread public attention due to Mureed Abbas’s prominent role in Pakistan’s television industry. During earlier proceedings, Abbas’s widow challenged Adil Zaman’s bail, arguing that significant evidence had been overlooked. The Supreme Court subsequently cancelled the bail and directed law enforcement agencies to arrest the accused. However, Adil allegedly escaped from the court premises following the ruling.
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With Thursday’s verdict, the trial court has concluded proceedings against Atif Zaman, while legal action against the absconding co-accused will continue once he is taken into custody. The judgment remains subject to appeal under Pakistan’s legal process.