MIRZA: MAN DENIES PLOT TO KILL STEP MUM IN PAKISTAN

A man today (Weds) denied arranging for someone to shoot his step-mother dead in Pakistan.

Ashfaq Mirza, 40, is accused of instructing an unknown person to murder Rukhsana Kausar (CORR) on or before February 10 last year.

Mrs Kausar, also in her 40s, was shot in the stomach in the city of Gujrat (CORR), some 75 miles north of Lahore.

She suffered severe wounds to her abdomen in the attack, but has since made a full recovery.

Mirza was originally charged with attempted murder in April this year, but now faces a charge of soliciting to murder.

He pleaded not guilty during a short hearing before the Common Serjeant of London Judge Brian Barker QC at the Old Bailey.

A trial was set for January 16 and the case is likely to last five to seven days.

The Metropolitan police are continuing to liaise with authorities in Pakistan over the incident.

Mirza, of flat (5) (531) Upper Elmers End Road, Beckenham, Kent, but also known to use an address in Zanzibar Court, Wapping, East London, was remanded in custody.