ATC allows open jail trial

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) allowed open trial proceedings against PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Dr Yasmeen Rashid on their plea questioning the fairness of their trial without making the public aware about whether or not they had committed any alleged offence.

ATC Judge Khalid Arshad was hearing an application filed by the leaders through Advocate Burhan Moazam Malik who implored the court that doubts would be raised over the fairness of the proceedings if access of the media and the petitioner’s families was not made easier.

Responding to the prosecution’s argument that it was an open trial, Advocate Malik dispelled the impression, saying it could only be called a camera trial wherein there was a judge, accused persons, their lawyers and the prosecution. Giving some citations, he said he was at a loss to understand why the trial was not being conducted openly despite there being nothing to hide.

He said no member of the public or media had been permitted to attend the proceedings in spite of there being no question of the security of the state being endangered if the trial was conducted in an open court.

PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi argued that he had served on positions and the people gave him mandate so they should be aware about what wrong he had committed.

He said he would not appear before the court if open trial was not conducted.

The prosecution strongly opposed the arguments and requested the court to dismiss the application.

However, the ATC judge, accepting the application of both the leaders, allowed an open trial with limited media personnel and family members of the accused allowed to attend the jail trial proceedings.

On another application, the ATC judge also directed the prosecution to submit complete challan of the FIR registered on the charges of disturbing law and order, creating anarchy, arson and setting ablaze the Shadman police station during riots after the arrest of PTI’s founding chairman Imran Khan.