ATC hearings adjourned as virus spreads
Accused MQM leader, IO didn’t show up after testing Covid-positive
PHOTO: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) directed on Saturday all the accused in 27 cases pertaining to hate speech by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder to appear before the court at the next hearing.
MQM leaders Amir Khan, Qamar Mansoor, Rauf Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar and others appeared in court, as the counsel for accused Khawaja Izharul Hassan submitted a plea along with a medical report seeking an exemption for his client from appearing before the court. He informed the court that Hassan had been diagnosed with coronavirus and could not therefore appear in court.
The ATC accepted the plea and adjourned the hearing till August 8.
Hearing adjourned
Another ATC adjourned the hearing of two cases, involving anti-state slogans, terrorism and an attack on a media house, due to the absence of the investigation officer (IO).
The accused in the case, MQM leaders Sattar, Mansoor, Shahid Pasha, and others, appeared in court. The government lawyer submitted IO Abdul Hameed's medical report, telling the court he had tested positive for coronavirus.
The court adjourned the hearing till August 8.
Reference filed in SHC
Another ATC filed a reference to Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, seeking permission for cases to be heard in one court.
The ATC was hearing two cases pertaining to arrest s and recovery of weapons from MQM headquarters Nine Zero.
According to the filed reference, two cases pertaining to the arrests and weapon confiscation were under trial in two separate courts, while 28 cases were under trial in ATC-16 and 24 in ATC-17, but the cases being heard in the latter were facing delays due to the judge's absence. The reference sought permission for the cases to be heard in ATC-16.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2020.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) directed on Saturday all the accused in 27 cases pertaining to hate speech by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder to appear before the court at the next hearing.
MQM leaders Amir Khan, Qamar Mansoor, Rauf Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar and others appeared in court, as the counsel for accused Khawaja Izharul Hassan submitted a plea along with a medical report seeking an exemption for his client from appearing before the court. He informed the court that Hassan had been diagnosed with coronavirus and could not therefore appear in court.
The ATC accepted the plea and adjourned the hearing till August 8.
Hearing adjourned
Another ATC adjourned the hearing of two cases, involving anti-state slogans, terrorism and an attack on a media house, due to the absence of the investigation officer (IO).
The accused in the case, MQM leaders Sattar, Mansoor, Shahid Pasha, and others, appeared in court. The government lawyer submitted IO Abdul Hameed's medical report, telling the court he had tested positive for coronavirus.
The court adjourned the hearing till August 8.
Reference filed in SHC
Another ATC filed a reference to Sindh High Court Chief Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, seeking permission for cases to be heard in one court.
The ATC was hearing two cases pertaining to arrest s and recovery of weapons from MQM headquarters Nine Zero.
According to the filed reference, two cases pertaining to the arrests and weapon confiscation were under trial in two separate courts, while 28 cases were under trial in ATC-16 and 24 in ATC-17, but the cases being heard in the latter were facing delays due to the judge's absence. The reference sought permission for the cases to be heard in ATC-16.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2020.