Witness in bomb blast case cross-examined

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) adjourned hearing of the Johar Town bomb explosion case till January 24 after recording the statement of a witness on Tuesday.

The witness was also cross-examined by the defence counsel during the proceedings.

The court summoned more witnesses for recording their statements on the next date of hearing.

ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan conducted the proceedings through video link due to security reasons.

The Counter-Terrorism Department had filed the challan against three accused. The suspected mastermind of the attack, Samiul Haq, and facilitators Aziz Akbar and Naveed Akhtar were nominated in the charge sheet.

The CTD requested the court to award strict punishment to the accused, contending that sufficient evidence was available against them.

The ATC had already handed down death sentences to four men and five-year imprisonment to a woman accused in the same case.

The powerful bomb explosion on June 23, 2021 in Johar Town had left three people dead and 24 others, including a police constable, injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2023.