ATC sends 10 accused on judicial remand

In another trial, court summons all accused in case of attacking Askari Tower on Nov 29

LAHORE:

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday sent 10 accused to jail on 7-day judicial remand for identification parade in a case related to the May 9 violence.

ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan conducted the proceedings, wherein the Gulberg police produced the accused, Altaf Hussain, Abdul Ghani, Muhammad Ahmad Ali, Zeshan Liaqat, Muhammad Abdullah, Ahmad Hassan, Saad, Ghulam Qasim, Adnan Hussain and Rafique Khan with covered faces.

The investigation officer submitted that the accused were involved in torching vehicles in Gulberg and requested the court to send them to jail for identification parade. However, the defence counsel argued that the accused had been arrested after their release on bail in the Askari Tower attack case.

He pleaded with the court to release his clients. At this, the court observed that completion of investigations was mandatory and sent the accused to jail for identification parade on 7-day judicial remand.

Read May 9 protests caused Rs1b loss: commissioner

Meanwhile, an anti-terrorism court summoned all accused, nominated in a case of attacking Askari Tower in Gulberg, on November 29.

ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan conducted the trial of the Askari Tower attack case, wherein 47 accused including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Ejaz Chaudhry, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, appeared.

Notably, the attendance of Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Khadija Shah and Fahmida Mirza was marked through video link from jail.

The court observed that copies of the challan (charge-sheet) would be distributed once the number of accused was complete, with indictment to follow. Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing until November 29 and summoned all accused. The court has received a challan against 73 accused in the case so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2023.