PNS Mehran links: No bail for alleged terrorist’s widow in Riaz Chinoy case
Being the mother of an infant no grounds for bail under ATC Act.
KARACHI:
Anti-Terrorism Court headed by Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso rejected on Thursday the plea for bail for Sabiha, the widow of an alleged terrorist, Qari Shahid. She was charged with abetment in the kidnapping of businessman Riaz Chinoy who was rescued after an encounter between his captors and the police.
Sabiha Karim was arrested at the house where the hostage was detained for a few weeks. She used to cook and serve food to the hostage and the alleged kidnappers.
Her lawyer argued for bail on humanitarian grounds, maintaining that Sabiha was the mother of a small boy and was facing difficulties in taking care of the child.
The special public prosecutor opposed the bail, maintaining that she assisted the accused men in the crime. The police also claimed to have found a laptop and published hate material from her possession.
The prosecutor also maintained that the anti-terrorism court has no such provision in which an accused person can seek bail on the ground that she is the mother of an infant. The presiding officer of the ATC has extraordinary powers to reject bail, the prosecutor maintained, requesting the court dismissed the bail plea.
According to the Quaidabad police, Riaz Chinoy was kidnapped on October 9, 2011 when he was coming to the city. He was kidnapped allegedly by accused Shahid Khan alias Qari along with two accomplices Muhammad Babar alias Moosa and Haroon Ali. The accused demanded a ransom of Rs500 million and were negotiating it when they were tracked down.
All three men were killed when a team, including the CPLC, raided a house in Allahwala Town, Korangi on December 5, 2011. The police claimed that the men belonged to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Sabiha was arrested on December 8 at a house in the same locality. She confessed that her deceased husband and others were involved in the attack on PNS Mehran.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2012.
Anti-Terrorism Court headed by Judge Bashir Ahmed Khoso rejected on Thursday the plea for bail for Sabiha, the widow of an alleged terrorist, Qari Shahid. She was charged with abetment in the kidnapping of businessman Riaz Chinoy who was rescued after an encounter between his captors and the police.
Sabiha Karim was arrested at the house where the hostage was detained for a few weeks. She used to cook and serve food to the hostage and the alleged kidnappers.
Her lawyer argued for bail on humanitarian grounds, maintaining that Sabiha was the mother of a small boy and was facing difficulties in taking care of the child.
The special public prosecutor opposed the bail, maintaining that she assisted the accused men in the crime. The police also claimed to have found a laptop and published hate material from her possession.
The prosecutor also maintained that the anti-terrorism court has no such provision in which an accused person can seek bail on the ground that she is the mother of an infant. The presiding officer of the ATC has extraordinary powers to reject bail, the prosecutor maintained, requesting the court dismissed the bail plea.
According to the Quaidabad police, Riaz Chinoy was kidnapped on October 9, 2011 when he was coming to the city. He was kidnapped allegedly by accused Shahid Khan alias Qari along with two accomplices Muhammad Babar alias Moosa and Haroon Ali. The accused demanded a ransom of Rs500 million and were negotiating it when they were tracked down.
All three men were killed when a team, including the CPLC, raided a house in Allahwala Town, Korangi on December 5, 2011. The police claimed that the men belonged to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Sabiha was arrested on December 8 at a house in the same locality. She confessed that her deceased husband and others were involved in the attack on PNS Mehran.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2012.