Kanju’s Acquittal : LHC calls for more arguments

LAHORE: A division bench of Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought further arguments from the Punjab prosecutor general on the provincial government’s appeal against acquittal of Mutafa Kanju. The bench, headed by Justice Shahid Hameed Dar, then put off hearing till December 14. Prosecutor General Ahtasham told the court an anti-terrorism court had acquitted Kanju in haste. He said trial court did not record statements of police witnesses. He said the court did not let the prosecutor cross-examine the complainant. He said the accused should have not been acquitted. He said the court acquitted him only because prosecution witnesses had retracted his statement.  An anti-terrorism court had acquitted Mustafa Kanju, son of former state minister Siddique Kanju, and five others on October 27. On April 1, Mustafa had allegedly opened fire on a vehicle, killing a youth and injuring a passer-by.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2015.