ATC extends remand of 68 PTI leaders

Officer requested the court to grant renewed physical remand for the accused

LAHORE:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) granted a three-day physical remand for 68 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry, and others in the Shadman Police Station attack case.

The remand was extended due to the addition of new offenses.

ATC Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar presided over the proceedings and considered the application filed by the police for the physical remand of the accused.

The investigation officer stated that further investigation was necessary following the inclusion of charges under Section 131 (Abetting mutiny or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor, or airman from his duty), 121 (Waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 146 (Rioting) and other sections of the Pakistan Penal Code in the case.

The officer requested the court to grant a renewed physical remand for the accused to conduct investigations related to these new charges.

In response, the defence counsel objected to the remand request, arguing that no further investigation was needed since the accused had already been sent to jail on judicial remand after completing investigations by the police.

The defense further argued that any additional investigation required could be conducted within the jail premises.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2023.