Bailed out: Dr Akmal Waheed released after posting bail

ATC-I had earlier granted the doctor’s bail against surety of Rs50,000.

KARACHI:

Dr Akmal Waheed was released by the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police late Thursday night.

Earlier in the day, the Anti-Terrorism Court-I (ATC-I) had granted him bail against Rs50,000 and issued his release papers.

Dr Waheed was detained by the police on August 8 when he arrived in Karachi after completing a jail term in the UAE.

He was arrested for alleged violations of the fourth schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 1997. On August 13, the ATC-I had granted his remand to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police which lapsed on Friday.

The case investigating officer, Inspector Rao Zulfiqar, has appealed to the court to grant more time to prepare a charge-sheet detailing the alleged violations of the ATA fourth schedule by Dr Waheed.

Zulfiqar told The Express Tribune on Friday that the charge-sheet will be submitted on September 7. Dr Waheed will have to check in with the police on a regular basis, he added.

The case has attracted a considerable amount of interest. Television reporters – a rare sight at anti-terrorism courts – were present to report on the case this week. On Friday, a lawyer was present at the court hoping to meet Dr Waheed in a “personal capacity”. But the doctor was not in court. According to his lawyer, the police had told them that his presence was not necessary.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2012.