Musharraf attack convict released

SC upholds high court judgment, acquits Rana Tanvir after completion of life sentence

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has acquitted a man convicted of attack on former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

A three-member bench led by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood rejected the appeals filed by the federal and Punjab governments against the acquittal of suspect Rana Tanvir.

Tanvir’s counsel, Hashmat Habib told the court that the convict had not been released despite the completion of his life sentence.

The span of life imprisonment is 14 years “whereas my client has been in jail for 20 years”, the counsel added.

The government lawyer contended that there was “solid evidence” against Tanvir. He said the high court had not properly evaluated the entire evidence.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court decided to acquit Tanvir.

Tanvir was sentenced to life in 2005 by the apex court. He was arrested on December 31, 2003 for his involvement in an attack on Musharraf’s motorcade in Rawalpindi.

The jail authorities were not releasing him despite completion of his sentence.

The top court upheld the high court’s decision of release and dismissed the federal and Punjab governments’ appeals.