Top court acquits alleged trainer of suicide attackers

CJP Khosa says it is strange no evidence exists against a person who trained suicide bombers

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday acquitted a 52-time death sentence convict Sufi Baba, who was allegedly involved in brain-washing of youngsters for suicide attacks, giving him the benefit of doubt.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, heard the case.

During the course of proceedings, Punjab additional prosecutor apprised the court that the accused trained suicide bombers for the attack on Sakhi Sarwar shrine on April 3, 2010.

He said the accused also recorded his confessional statement in this regard.

The chief justice questioned, “When Sufi Baba has sent other people to heaven, why he never wished to visit heaven himself?”

He said, “It is strange that no evidence exists against a person who trained suicide bombers.”

He observed that the police had not provided any evidence against the accused and that the accused was not present at the time of the suicide attack.

The chief justice remarked that the prosecution also failed to prove the allegations levelled against the accused and acquitted him giving him the benefit of doubt.

It may be mentioned that accused Bahram alias Sufi Muhammad was accused of training suicide bombers for the attack on the shrine in Dera Ghazi Khan in which 52 people were martyred and 172 injured. The trial court awarded Sufi Muhammad 52-time death sentence which was also maintained by the Lahore High Court.



Separately, the Supreme Court accepted the appeal of a death row convict Muhammad Rizwan and acquitted him giving him the benefit of doubt. Rizwan has spent 10 years behind bars.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Khosa, heard the plea. Rizwan was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court over the alleged murder of Javed Suleman over a dispute on property in Kalor Kot tehsil of Bhakar district in 2009.

The Lahore High Court also maintained the trial court verdict.

During the course of proceedings, the chief justice remarked that there was a contradiction in statements registered in the case and those of the eyewitnesses. The defence counsel alleged that the police concealed facts in the case. The court accepted Rizwan's plea and issued his release orders.

In another case, the apex court dismissed the lifetime disqualification of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz candidate Saifullah Gill. A three-member bench, headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, heard the review petition filed by Gill.

Gill was disqualified for life from contesting elections over different dates of birth on his matriculation degree and the Computerised National Identity Card in 2007.

He also could not contest 2013 elections and in 2018 elections the Supreme Court barred him from contesting elections under articles 62 and 63.

On Friday, the Supreme Court accepted Gill's review petitions. Justice Ijazul Ahsan asked the counsel whether his client had got corrected the date of birth on his matriculation degree. The counsel replied that his client had got corrected his date of birth. The court sought copy of matriculation degree and disposed of the case.