Lynching case suspect granted bail by SC

Petitioner’s counsel says there is no evidence to establish that he was on the scene of lynching

LAHORE: One of the 43 people held for a year on charges of lynching two men during riots that followed twin suicide blasts at Youhanabad in March last year was on Monday released on bail.

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, accepted a bail application filed by Aslam Parvaiz Sahotra. However, the bench dismissed applications filed by two other suspects, Faisal Masih and Asif Masih.

Earlier, appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Advocate Asma Jahangir submitted Sahotra had not been present where the two men were lynched. She said Sahotra was at his home when the incident took place. She said this had been confirmed by the police investigation as well.

Jahangir said the investigators had not been able to recover anything from Sahotra to establish his association with the incident. She said the supect was 60-years old and was suffering from a chronic backache. She also submitted a copy of a medical certificate to substantiate her claim.

On behalf of the prosecution, DSP Iqbal Shah submitted that Sahotra had delivered a provocative speech that led the mob to burn the two men. He insisted that Sahotra had been on the scene when the crime occurred. However, when asked by the court to prove his claim, he failed to come up with a satisfactory response.

About the other two suspects, the DSP said Asif Masih had beaten up the deceased with a wooden rod which was recovered from him during investigation. He said Faisal Masih had doused the deceased with petrol. The bottle used for the purpose had been recovered from him, the DSP said.

The three suspects were among 43 Christian residents of Youhanabad nominated in an FIR registered under murder and terrorism charges. The police had held at least 200 residents after the incident. Later, they had nominated 43 and released the others.

At least 15 people had lost their lives and 70 were injured in the March 15, 2015, suicide attacks at two Youhanabad churches.

Following the blasts, scores of people had taken to the streets and blocked Ferozepur Road for traffic.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2016.