ATC denies bail to suspects in illegal madrassa case

Case pertains to banned outfit JeM constructing madrassah on land allotted for a park in Surjani Town

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court rejected on Thursday the bail pleas of two accused in a case pertaining to the illegal construction of a seminary by banned outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad on land allotted for a park in Surjani Town.

Denying bail to Muhammad bin Shehzad and Rehan, the court ruled that both of them be sent to jail. They had earlier acquired interim bails and were declared absconders.

At the hearing, the defence lawyer, seeking bails for the accused, argued that three witnesses had testified in their favour.

“But the accused did not give any reason for acquiring interim bails,” the public prosecutor responded, claiming they had been financing terrorists from the madrassa’s income.

Meanwhile, the West deputy commissioner did not appear before the court.

Irked by his absence, the court issued him a show-cause notice, ordering him to attend the next hearing on July 17.

Lyari gangster remanded

At another hearing, the court sent alleged Lyari gangster Shahid Shani to prison on judicial remand in a case pertaining to the possession of illegal weapons and ammunition at the time of arrest.

At the hearing, police sought his remand, stating that he needed to be interrogated so that others accused in the case may also be arrested.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2020.