May 1 attack on NATO tankers: Court commissions identification parade of suspects

The three suspects were arrested by the Chakwal police on May 16.

RAWALPINDI:

Police on Tuesday were given permission to carry out an identification parade of three men suspected to be involved in an attack on NATO supply tankers.

The identification parade will be carried out in Chakwal, where the suspects were arrested from. Twenty-two NATO oil tankers near Pindigheb were destroyed and four policemen including Sub Inspector Muhammad Ramzan were killed in an attack on May 1. The suspects were arrested by the Chakwal police on May 16.

Station House Officer Pindigheb Chakwal presented the three suspects, Ali Imran from Islamabad, and Hafuz Aizazur Rehman and Shujahud Din from Jhelum, to the Anti-Terrorism Court-1 Judge Malik Muhammad Awan on Tuesday. The judge granted permission for the identification parade.

Police said the three suspects are members of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Taliban and alleged they were involved in numerous attacks on NATO tankers in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa.

The three had been arrested carrying explosive materials and a suicide vest. Pindigheb police told the court that the three men were also believed to have torched two NATO tankers in Sadaar Talagang, Chakwal last year on April 24. Two men were killed in the attack. Chakwal police had informed Lahore High Court about Ali’s arrest after his mother, a doctor, had filed an appeal last month seeking the recovery of her son who had “gone missing”.

Meanwhile, a company, Mengal, has claimed ownership of the damaged trucks and sought their custody. The court has asked the Chakwal police for their input on the application. The next hearing is on June 14.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2011.