Man beats traffic officials: ATC judge removes terrorism charges from case

The suspect faces two cases, damaging public property and attacking law enforcers

KARACHI: The administrative judge of city anti-terrorism courts removed on Monday the terrorism section from the case against a man who allegedly beat traffic personnel over parking issue in January this year.  Justice Syed Farooq Shah gave direction of removing the Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act from the case against the suspect, identified as Shafiq, after the police submitted the challan of the case.

According to the CCTV footage released by police, the suspect had beaten traffic police personnel after they asked him not to park his motorbike at the no-parking zone near the PIDC office. Shafiq was infuriated and started hitting a constable with his helmet and others officers, who came to rescue the constable. He also smashed the windscreen of a car parked nearby.

The suspect faces two cases, one of damaging public property and the other of attacking law enforcers. Hours after his arrest, he was released on bail on personal surety. However, he was later taken into custody again following the scrutiny of the video that suggests that he was the first to attack.

The judge, after removing the sections, referred the case to a district and sessions court for commencement of trial and disposal.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2016.