ATC acquits four suspects of banned outfit

Prosecution, CTD failed to prove charges against the accused

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has acquitted  high profile suspects associated with a banned sectarian extremist outfit  in cases  involving the recovery of significant amounts of explosives, a police encounter, and possession of illegal weapons.

The verdict was delivered by the ATC while hearing the cases at the Anti- Terrorism Complex in Karachi Central Jail. The prosecution and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) authorities faced challenges in establishing the charges related to the recovery of over 2,000kg of explosives.  

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Consequently, the ATC acquitted four accused from the banned organisaTion, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The acquitted suspects include  Zafar, alias Sain, Qari  Javed,  Muhammad  Wazir, and  Syed Hasan   Ali. In  2017, the CTD  claimed to have dismantled a sleeper cell  associated with the banned outfit during an operation in Mehran Town, Korangi.

According to the prosecution, the operation led to the recovery of  more than 2,000kg of  explosives, RPG rockets, Mortar shells, and  suicide jackets. Dildar, alias  Chacha, the  in-charge  of  the sleeper cell, was killed during the operation