Delayed trial: Terrorism convict to be charged in drugs case on 7th

Case copies handed to Taliban member at hearing in jail.

LAHORE:

Drugs possessions charges will be framed against a member of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on December 7. Case copies were handed to the accused in a hearing held behind bars on Monday.

Sakhi Shah has already been convicted for various offences under the Anti-terrorism Act and sentenced to life in prison.

The drugs charges date back to his arrest on February 8, 2010, when he was arrested at a picket while trying to enter Lahore via the Saggian bridge.

According to the FIR registered by Shahdra police, the picket had been set up after they received a tip that members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan led by explosives expert Qari Abdul Baseer were on their way to Lahore to execute a suicide attack on a hotel. Baseer, Shah, Tehsil Khan, Abdur Rehman, Mohyuddin and Dilawar Saeed were arrested at the picket after jackets fitted with explosives and hand grenades were found in their car.



Shah was also alleged to have been carrying four kilograms of hashish.

Shah’s drugs trial was initiated on April 22, 2010, but it did not progress as different judges kept being assigned to the case, and some time was wasted on issuing notices for his arrest when he was already in jail.

An additional district and sessions judge will frame charges against Shah on December 7.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2013.