The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has granted permission for a re-evaluation of the age of the teenage driver involved in a fatal road accident in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), where six members of a family lost their lives, including two minors.
On Saturday, the ATC accepted the request of the Investigation Officer (IO) to conduct a fresh age determination test for the teenage motorist.
The accused was presented before the court after completing his judicial remand.
The IO informed the court that the initial age test conducted by two doctors was deemed unsatisfactory. In response, a 12-member board of doctors has been formed to reassess the age of the teenage motorist more accurately.
Read ‘Threats’ follow fatal car crash
The IO requested the court's permission to conduct the test again, and the ATC Judge granted approval.
A few weeks ago, the vehicle driven by the accused teenager, Afnan Shafqat Awan, collided with another car, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives. The victims included Rukhsana Bibi (45), her son Husnain (25), daughter-in-law Ayesha (23), her son-in-law Sajjad (30), four-month-old grandson Huzaifa, and her granddaughter Anaya (4).
The Defense-C police station initially registered an FIR against the accused under various offenses. However, later, sections 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act were added to the charges.
It is noteworthy that the age reassessment comes in light of concerns regarding the accuracy of the initial test and its implications for the legal proceedings against the accused teenage driver.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2023.
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