LHC decision: Bail plea of 9 lynching case accused rejected

The accused submitted that they wanted to be with their families on Eid.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court has dismissed the bail applications filed by nine people accused in the Sialkot lynching case.

Justice Rauf Ahmed Sheikh on Wednesday dismissed their applications as prosecutor Rana Bakhtiar Ahmed informed the court that the trial of the case was in its final stage and all witnesses, except one, had recorded their statements.

He said that the Supreme Court had directed the trial court to conclude the trial within four weeks, and in this situation, granting bail to the accused might influence the trial.

The nine accused submitted that others who were also accused in the same case had been granted bails, adding that they wanted to enjoy Eid with their families.

On August 15 last year, two brothers, Muneeb and Mughees were lynched and murdered in Sialkot. Footage of the lynching incident showed policemen standing on the sidelines, as a cheering mob mercilessly lynched Mughees, 19, and Muneeb, 16, with iron rods.

Some police officials as well as civilians who were involved in the lynching were booked and arrested after a case was registered on the directives of top provincial authorities.

The case is now being heard at the ATC Gujranwala against 28 accused, including 10 policemen and 11 civilians. All accused are in judicial lock-up, except suspended DPO Waqar Chohan and SHO Ilyas, who were bailed out.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th,  2011.