Null and void: ATC judgment on suspected militant’s trial rejected

The bench expressed concerns over the verdict given by ATC Judge Ibrahim Khan.

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has nullified the judgment of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to try a suspected militant under the Explosives Act instead of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Earlier, the ATC had ordered that Din Muhamad, who was arrested by Pahari Pura police on May 22, 2011, be tried under the Explosives Act for carrying a suicide jacket.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Muhammad’s counsel told the PHC bench his client was not found wearing the jacket. The bench, however, observed that a suicide jacket is always aimed at destruction and to carry out attacks on civilians, security forces and police.

It also expressed concerns over the verdict given by ATC Judge Ibrahim Khan and ordered the case to be sent to ATC Judge Anwar Hussain.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2013.