Six Pakistan soldiers charged over killing of unarmed youth

Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court has indicted six paramilitary soldiers and a civilian in the murder of an unarmed youth who was killed in an execution-style shooting in a public park in Karachi early this month.

If convicted, the seven accused could be sentenced to death, a prosecution lawyer said. Six Pakistan's Rangers were arrested for killing 18-year-old Sarfraz Shah after a civilian dragged him over to the troops accusing him of robbery in Karachi on June 8.

The daylight incident was filmed live by a private television channel's cameraman and shown on all channels, sparking a national outcry and shocking the country with the apparent brutality of trained officers in a country awash with violence blamed on the Taliban and Al Qaida.

Not guilty pleas

The government, facing public pressure amid the media focus on the gruesome incident, removed the chiefs of the Rangers and the police in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital.

"The court has formally framed charges of murder and terrorism against all the accused," public prosecutor Mohammad Khan Buriro told reporters. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They will contest the charges after appearing before judge Bashir Ahmad Khoso yesterday, lawyers said. "They are innocent and will contest the charges," said M R Sayed, one of the defence lawyers.

Buriro said the trial was to begin on Thursday and 46 witnesses would be called to the stand.

The formal indictment had been repeatedly delayed to allow the accused time to hire lawyers. Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik claimed last week the victim had been carrying a weapon.

With input from AFP