ATC summons witnesses in May 9 arson case

PESHAWAR:

Judicial proceedings in three major cases involving arson, corruption, and financial fraud moved forward on Saturday, as courts in Peshawar issued key directives, summoned accused officials, and approved remand requests in matters that collectively involve billions of rupees in financial losses and widespread public impact.

In the first case, the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) resumed hearings on the May 9, 2023 attack on the Radio Pakistan building, a landmark incident during which violent protesters set the historic structure ablaze. ATC Judge Wali Muhammad Khan ordered prosecution witnesses as well as the investigation officer to appear with all case property at the next hearing. The court was informed that over 80 suspects have been nominated in the case, including PTI MPAs Meena Khan Afridi, Fazal Elahi and Asif Khan. Police have completed the investigation and initiated trial proceedings; however, nine accused persons have yet to appear and have been declared absconders. The hearing was adjourned until November 25.

In a separate development, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Court summoned five Food Department officers in the multi-million-rupee wheat embezzlement scandal. Prosecutors told Judge Asif Rasheed that charges had been formally framed against the accused, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Khalid, Qazi Junaid, Tila Mohammad and Mohammad Atif, while another suspect, Usman Abid Shah, remains at large. According to the inquiry, the officials, posted at the Izakhel wheat storage facility in Nowshera, allegedly colluded to misappropriate 1,700 tons of wheat, equivalent to nearly 3,300 bags. The scam has caused a loss estimated at Rs196 million to the national exchequer. The court summoned the inquiry officer and all five officials as prosecution witnesses at the next hearing, set for November 17.