ATC irked at IO’s failure to arrest absconding accused

Four accused in cases pertaining to May 12 tragedy have been declared absconders

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) issued non-bailable arrest warrants of four absconding accused on Monday and directed the investigation officer (IO) to arrest the absconders in the case pertaining to the May 12 tragedy. The cases have been filed against the Awami National Party, Pakistan Peoples Party and Jamaat-e-Islami.

The IO sought more time from the court to arrest the absconding accused. This irked the court and it remarked that the IO sought more time at every hearing.

The court asked if practical efforts were being made to arrest the accused or not.

The IO maintained that raids were being conducted in this regard and the accused would soon be in custody. The court was told that the accused had gone underground out of fear of arrest.

The court ordered the IO to arrest the absconders and present them before the court by November 29.

Illegal land: Court issues warrants for absconders

The absconding accused are Abdul Bari Kakar, Habibullah, Mushtaq and Waqeel.

The police have nominated 400 to 500 unidentified workers of the PPP, ANP and JI in the case. The absconders are associated with different political parties and the cases against them were registered in 2007 at different police stations. Eleven cases of the May 12 tragedy are already under trial in the ATC.

Over 20 others accused, including Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, have acquired bail while 14 other accused have been termed wanted by the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12^th, 2019.