Suspending conviction: Plea returned for lack of documents

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court registrar’s office on Thursday returned Shahid Aziz alias Gullu Butt’s petition seeking suspension of his conviction saying that it lacked attested copies of required documents.  On October 30, an anti-terrorism court had sentenced Aziz to five years imprisonment under Section 7 of the ATA, three months under Section 186 of the PPC (obstructing public servants in discharge of public functions), two years under Section 353 of PPC (assault or criminal force to deter public servants from discharge of duty), two years under Section 427 of PPC (mischief causing damage and smashing vehicles) and two years under Section 506 of PPC (punishment for criminal intimidation). The court had ordered that all the sentences would be run concurrently. The court also fined Aziz Rs140,100. In his petition, Aziz said that the appeal against his conviction was pending before a court and he was certain that he would be acquitted. He said his appeal was not likely to be taken up in the near future so he should be granted bail by suspending his conviction.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2015.