ATC acquits 40 accused in Youhanabad lynching cases

Complainants inform court of compromise, benefit of doubt given in arson cases

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday acquitted 40 people accused in the Youhanabad lynching cases of two men, Babar Noman and Naeem, after the complainants reached a compromise with them.

The court also acquitted 47 members of the Christian community, who were accused of arson, rioting and damaging state property.

ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta concluded four trials relating to the Youhanabad incident.

In the two trials of lynching, the complainants recorded their statements that they had reached a compromise with the accused.

Out of the 42 accused in the lynching cases, two had died in jail. In the other two cases of arson and rioting, the ATC judge acquitted the accused by giving them the benefit of doubt.

On October 1, 2016, an ATC judge had framed charges against 42 Christian suspects in the lynching cases.

Youhanabad lynching: Christian suspects asked to convert in return for release

A mob had brutally killed the two men in the aftermath of the deadly church bombings in Youhanabad area on March 15, 2015.

At least 15 people were killed and 85 injured after two bombers blew themselves up outside two churches.

In the wake of the incident, the Christian community organised protests that turned violent. A mob grabbed the two men and burned them alive, alleging that they were associates of the bombers.

The victims were identified by their families as Babar Noman, a garment worker who had come to Lahore from Sargodha in search of employment, and Hafiz Naeem, a glass cutter. The police investigation team had arrested 69 suspects in connection with the lynching of Noman and Naeem.

In the challan presented before the court by Nishtar Colony police, it was stated that the suspects torched two innocent citizens to death following the bomb explosions.