6 more record testimonies in Priyantha lynching case

ATC judge adjourns hearing until March 22, summons all witnesses

LAHORE:

As many as 40 witnesses have so far recorded their statements before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) hearing mob lynching of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara at a Sialkot factory.

ATC judge Natasha Naseem led the proceedings at the Kot Lakhpat prison, where six eyewitnesses recorded their statements on Saturday, bringing the total number of witnesses who have recorded their testimonies in the case to 40.

The court adjourned the hearing until March 22 and summoned all witnesses for cross-examination.

It may be noted that the prosecution has submitted two separate challans in the case. The trial of nine juveniles in the case is being conducted separately. ATC has indicted 89 suspects, while the suspects denied their involvement in the lynching of the Sri Lankan national.

The ATC initiated the Sialkot lynching incident’s trial at Kot Lakhpat Jail in early March and judge Natasha led the proceedings.

Priyantha, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan national, was lynched by a mob of workers at a factory on December 3, where he was working as a manager.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against hundreds of unidentified men, including workers of the factory.