PHC disposes of contempt plea over Ehsanullah Ehsan’s escape

Efforts were afoot to arrest the terrorist after which he would be tried, divisional bench told

PESHAWAR:

A two-judge divisional bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday disposed of a contempt of court petition filed against no trial of Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesperson of a banned outfit, his escape from the custody.

The bench heard the petition filed by Fazal Khan through Barrister Aamir Khan Chamkani. During the hearing Additional Attorney General Qazi Babar Irshad and AAG Atif Khan also appeared in the court. They stated that efforts were afoot to arrest the terrorist after which he would be tried.

The court was informed that a writ petition was filed in the PHC in 2017 after the Army Public School incident in which the father of a martyred boy took the plea that the trial of the terrorist Ehsanullah Ehsan involved in the tragedy was not being initiated.

The government had said it would try the case in a military court. However, after Ehsan escaped, the petitioner filed a contempt of court petition, alleging that the terrorist concerned had escaped while no action could be taken against him.

The court had also sought a report from the provincial home secretary. The court was informed that a military court was to hold the trial against the terrorists, but later those courts were abolished. The interior ministry also submitted secret letters in the court about seeking permission from the government to allow the trial against the terrorists.

When asked about the escape of Ehsan, the parties replied that all resources were being used to arrest the terrorist. Upon completion of arguments in the case, the court disposed of the contempt petition while the notices issued to the parties were withdrawn.