If convicted, PML-N's Abid Raza may be jailed, lose seat
A division bench of the Lahore High Court will take up the case this week
PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The acquittal case of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker Abid Raza has sent his political career up in the air because if he is convicted he might lose his seat in Parliament. A division bench of the Lahore High Court will this week take up the matter of Raza’s acquittal in six murders by an anti-terrorism court.
The court is revisiting the matter on the directions of the Supreme Court that has questioned how an accused could be acquitted after compromise in a case registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997.
The issue has been raised as it is said offenses under the ATA are non-compoundable and the accused cannot secure acquittal on the basis of reconciliation. The bench had adjourned the hearing till December 23 on the request of the accused’s counsel.
Unclear judgments
Raza was handed down the death sentence under Section 302 and Section 7 (Punishment for Acts of Terrorism) of ATA, 1997 for the murder of six people during a failed assassination attempt on the former nazim of Gujrat, Ghulam Sarwar Bhooch, in 1998.
An anti-terrorism court of Gujranwala had awarded Raza and six others death penalty in 2001 in six murders. Later, he was acquitted following reconciliation with the families of the victims.
The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the acquittal during an election matter pertaining to eligibility of Raza and revoked the acquittal of the suspects. The apex court referred the matter to the high court with directions to decide afresh the issue of acquittal.
During previous hearings, the LHC had remarked that no compromise could take place in cases being tried by the anti-terrorism courts. However, the counsel of Raza was of the view that once the court has passed the judgment that case cannot be opened.
In other webs
The MNA’s nomination papers for 2013 general elections were rejected by a returning officer on April 6, 2013 over an application of an independent candidate, Raja Haq Nawaz.
He had alleged that Raza had links with banned outfits. Raza was also listed under Section 11 (E) of the 4th Schedule of ATA, 1997 for his alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities.
The section talks about measures that are to be taken against a proscribed organisation. But strangely, he was cleared by an election tribunal on April 18, 2013 to contest the general elections.
Raza also remained under investigation in connection with the twin assassination attempts on Pervez Musharraf by two suicide bombers in Rawalpindi in December 2003.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2016.
The acquittal case of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker Abid Raza has sent his political career up in the air because if he is convicted he might lose his seat in Parliament. A division bench of the Lahore High Court will this week take up the matter of Raza’s acquittal in six murders by an anti-terrorism court.
The court is revisiting the matter on the directions of the Supreme Court that has questioned how an accused could be acquitted after compromise in a case registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997.
The issue has been raised as it is said offenses under the ATA are non-compoundable and the accused cannot secure acquittal on the basis of reconciliation. The bench had adjourned the hearing till December 23 on the request of the accused’s counsel.
Unclear judgments
Raza was handed down the death sentence under Section 302 and Section 7 (Punishment for Acts of Terrorism) of ATA, 1997 for the murder of six people during a failed assassination attempt on the former nazim of Gujrat, Ghulam Sarwar Bhooch, in 1998.
An anti-terrorism court of Gujranwala had awarded Raza and six others death penalty in 2001 in six murders. Later, he was acquitted following reconciliation with the families of the victims.
The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the acquittal during an election matter pertaining to eligibility of Raza and revoked the acquittal of the suspects. The apex court referred the matter to the high court with directions to decide afresh the issue of acquittal.
During previous hearings, the LHC had remarked that no compromise could take place in cases being tried by the anti-terrorism courts. However, the counsel of Raza was of the view that once the court has passed the judgment that case cannot be opened.
In other webs
The MNA’s nomination papers for 2013 general elections were rejected by a returning officer on April 6, 2013 over an application of an independent candidate, Raja Haq Nawaz.
He had alleged that Raza had links with banned outfits. Raza was also listed under Section 11 (E) of the 4th Schedule of ATA, 1997 for his alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities.
The section talks about measures that are to be taken against a proscribed organisation. But strangely, he was cleared by an election tribunal on April 18, 2013 to contest the general elections.
Raza also remained under investigation in connection with the twin assassination attempts on Pervez Musharraf by two suicide bombers in Rawalpindi in December 2003.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2016.