A division bench of the Lahore High Court on Thursday extended a stay order stopping an Anti Terrorism Court in Sargodha from passing a final order in a case against former MPA Aslam Madhyana who is alleged to have tortured a school teacher and broken both his legs.
The bench comprising Justices Sheikh Najamul Hasan and Abdul Sami Khan was hearing a writ petition filed by Madhyana seeking the removal of Section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act 1997 from the FIR and the transfer of the case to a court of ordinary jurisdiction (a sessions court).
On Thursday, the complainant’s lawyer sought time to present some documentary evidence and the bench postponed the hearing till May 3. Madhyana’s lawyer Azam Nazir Tarar had already completed his arguments.
Tarar contended that the complainant had concocted the story due to an enmity with Madhyana, pointing out that the medical board constituted on the complainant’s request had said that he had sustained no bullet injuries.
The board, he said, had concluded that the injuries on the teacher’s legs were caused by a blunt weapon.
The lawyer further said that the incident took place in a bazaar.
He said the owners of shops in the bazaar had appeared before a special investigation team and stated that they did not see Madhyana that day and that no shots were fired.
The counsel further argued that shops were not closed after the incident which negated the prosecution’s assertion that the incident had caused a wave of terror.
Tarar said Anti Terrorism Courts and should not be used to settle personal scores. According to the prosecution, Madhyana and his accomplices attacked school teacher Nafees Ahmad Khan in Sargodha.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2012.
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