RAWALPINDI:
An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi formally indicted Anjum Aqeel, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Islamabad, who had been charged with escaping from police custody, and 16 other men on Thursday.
The accused MNA and others, however, pleaded not guilty and said they would contest the charges and face trial in court. The trial court judge Shahid Nazir adjourned hearing of the case till October 11 when the prosecution would produce its witnesses against the accused persons.
The PML-N legislator and around 40 men were accused of forcibly escaping from the custody of Shalimar police station on July 15, amid firing in the air and scuffles. The PML-N MNA was initially arrested for his alleged involvement in the multi-billion rupee land scam in the National Police Foundation (NPC).
The police in its investigation have already discharged all accused in the case; however 17 of them are still facing trial as proof of innocence could not be obtained against the men.
The accused MNA on Thursday denied all charges of being forcibly taken from police custody with the help of his supporters. Aqeel had already maintained in the bail application that he did not know the identity of the men who nabbed him from custody.
The others accused in the case have asserted before the court that they are being dragged in the case under political pressure only for supporting the PML-N legislator. After the hearing, the MNA avoided answering any questions from the media, leaving the court premises in a private car.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2011.
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Look at this face and you'l see a Crook,claiming Victory for i dont know what!