ATC discharges Jinnah House attack accused

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday discharged an accused from the Jinnah House attack case. Police produced the accused, a singer, Umar Aftab Malik, before ATC Judge Arshad Javed upon the expiry of his 10-day physical remand.

The investigating officer stated that the accused was involved in the Jinnah House attack and the investigation had been completed.

He said physical custody of the accused was no longer required and requested that he be sent to jail on judicial remand.

The counsel for the accused argued that the police had no evidence against his client and that he had been arrested 16 months after the incident.

He requested the court to discharge his client from the case. After hearing the arguments, the court rejected the police's request and discharged the accused from the case.

The Sarwar Road police had registered the case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers on charges of attacking the Jinnah House during the May 9 riots.