Bail plea of ‘TTP militant’ rejected

ATC summons more witnesses in Naqeebullah murder case

KARACHI:

An anti-terrorism court rejected the bail pleas on Thursday of an alleged militant, affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

ATC No12 was hearing the bail plea of Faizur Rehman at the Karachi Central Jail.

The defence counsel argued that Rehman was arrested long after the case against him was registered. The counsel contended that his client had already been placed under the Fourth Schedule when he arrested and he had been regularly reporting to the relevant police station.

The prosecutor maintained, however, that Rehman’s arrest was prompted by the report of intelligence agencies. The prosecutor stated that the accused is a member of the TTP’s Haqqani group and has been arrested on charges of collecting donations for the proscribed militant outfit.

Read: ‘TTP terrorist’ held in Orangi Town raid

A receipt book was found in the accused’s possession, said the prosecutor, adding that the case against Rehman was lodged at the Counter Terrorism Department’s police station in 2020.

After hearing the counsels’ arguments, the ATC rejected Rehman’s bail plea and adjourned the hearing.

Witnesses summoned

Meanwhile, another ATC recorded the statement of a witness in Naqeebullah murder case and summoned more witnesses at the next hearing slated for April 8.

Former Malir SSP Rao Anwar, former DSP Qamar and other accused appeared before the court.

During the hearing, the defence counsel, advocate Amir Mansoob, argued that the witness’ actions were not in accordance with the Police Act 1934. He contended that both the accused were arrested by the Punjab Police in 2016 but never by the Sindh Police.

Earlier the witness, who is a police official, stated that he had travelled to Punjab along with an inquiry team on the directives of the additional inspector-general of police and had inquired about Ishaq and Sabir - the two persons who were killed along with Naqeebullah. The witness stated that the parents of the both the deceased had informed that they were detained by the Punjab Police in 2016 but the families had not filed any reports pertaining to their disappearance.

During cross-examination, Rao’s counsel asked the witness if he had acquired permission from the provincial home departments to travel to Punjab for the inquiry. To this, the witness replied in the negative.

The witness also denied that he or a team member had signed the statements of the families that he was referring to, when asked by the defence counsel.

Also read: Three TTP commanders among four killed in two Waziristan IBOs

Following which, the defence counsel contended that the families’ statements did not hold without the signatures and had no legal bearing.

The defence counsel argued that whatever action had been taken by the witness was of no legal value as police rules were not taken into account.

He further stated that his client, Rao Anwar, had not been posted in 2016.

Another witness, also a police official, could not appear for the hearing and the court was informed that the witness was infected with the coronavirus.

The court summoned more witnesses at the next hearing.

According to the prosecution, Naqeebullah, whose real name was Naseemullah Mehsud, was killed along with three others, Sabir, Nazar Jan and Ishaq, in a fake encounter on the outskirts of the city in January 2018 by then Malir SSP Rao Anwar.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2021.