All fast food outlet attack suspects secure bail

Police claims fall flat as court discredits confession claims by investigators

RAWALPINDI:

The claims made by senior police officers regarding the public confessions and apologies of six individuals arrested for alleged attacks on international food chain outlets proved to be false as a local court approved bail for all the accused in both cases registered at Cantt and Waris Khan police stations and ordered their immediate release after removing their handcuffs.

According to reports, senior police officers had summoned media representatives to the court, stating that the arrested suspects would publicly apologise. However, during the hearing of Waris Khan Police's request for physical remand of the suspects, Civil Judge Dr Muhammad Mumtaz Hanjra questioned whether the sections listed in the FIR were bailable. The investigating officer (IO), instead of responding, lowered his head. Upon repeated questioning, other police officials also remained silent.

Expressing displeasure, the judge remarked, "If all sections in this case are bailable, what was the need for such actions? Why should the court grant physical remand when the entire case is based on bailable offenses?"

Defence counsel Chaudhry Yasir Advocate argued that the accused were innocent. Initially, they were implicated in the Cantt case, and later charged in another case involving an attack on a food chain office at Committee Chowk under Waris Khan police jurisdiction. "If they are truly guilty, then CCTV footage from the food outlets should be presented. If any of the arrested individuals appear in the footage, we will not contest the case," he stated.

He further alleged that none of the nominated suspects in the incident were arrested from the scene, but rather picked up from their homes, and that their real "offense" was participating in a protest rally against Israel a day earlier.

The government prosecutor acknowledged that the charges were indeed bailable, but still requested physical remand to recover batons allegedly used in the incident. The judge responded, "If all sections are bailable, under what law can physical remand be granted? Show us the relevant law, and the court will comply. Merely recovering batons under bailable sections does not justify physical remand."

Defence counsel added that the same six individuals—Basharat and others—were initially arrested and sent to jail by Cantt Police in connection with an attack on another food chain outlet. Once they secured bail in that case, Waris Khan Police implicated them in a similar incident at Committee Chowk.

"These are both fabricated cases meant to cover up police incompetence," the defence claimed. The court ultimately rejected the police's request for physical remand, approved bail for all six accused, and ordered the submission of surety bonds worth Rs25,000 each. Upon submission of the bonds, the court ordered the release of the suspects and had their handcuffs removed immediately.