ISLAMABAD: The main accused in the Sana Yousaf murder case, Umar Hayat, on Monday retracted from his confessional statement and rejected all charges before a district and sessions court of Islamabad, alleging that the police had falsely implicated him under public pressure linked to social media discussion of the case.
The hearing was conducted by Additional Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, where the accused recorded his statement under Section 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code. At the start of the hearing, Hayat refused to answer questions in the absence of his lawyer.
However, the court informed him that the statement under Section 342 is recorded directly between the judge and the accused.
During the proceedings, the judge asked several questions related to the murder, alleged mobile phone theft, use of a rented vehicle, location details, identification parade and reported confession.
The accused denied all allegations and described the case as false and fabricated.
Hayat told the court that he had been arrested on suspicion and claimed that police subjected him to torture and obtained thumb impressions on blank papers. “I do not know what the confessional statement is, the confessional statement of the murder is not mine. I was made to sign 7 blank pages, the confession statement is false, I do not know what is written in it,” he said.
He also alleged that he was implicated in the case due to pressure created on social media.
The hearing also saw an exchange of sharp remarks between the judge and defence counsel after a video was reportedly recorded inside the courtroom. After completion of the accused’s statement, the court adjourned the hearing until Tuesday (today).
