Sri Lankan cricketers: Bail petition dismissed

LHC dismisses bail petition of Malik Ishhaq, accused of facilitating the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team.

LAHORE:

A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday dismissed the bail petition of Malik Ishhaq, accused of facilitating the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team on March 3, 2009.

The bench observed that according to the investigation the petitioner had helped the attackers. Therefore, he was not entitled to bail. Counsel for the petitioner said that his client was neither involved in the attack, nor assisted the attackers in any way. He said when the team was attacked, his client was in jail.

An investigation officer, appearing before the court, said that the accused was an active member of an outfit banned for terrorism and had record of involvement in terrorist activities. He said although he was in jail at the time of the attack, he had helped the attackers over telephone.

He said terrorists had wanted to kidnap the players and demand Ishhaq’s release for their freedom.

After listening to the arguments, the bench dismissed the petition.



Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2011.