Lack of proof: Court orders release of child ‘extortionist’

KARACHI: The Anti-Terrorism Court-III has ordered the release of a child accused of extortion by the Preedy police. 

The child - who was first remanded in late August - was booked under Pakistan Penal Code sections related to offences of extortion and under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

On Friday, the police submitted its report to the Anti-Terrorism Court-III. The court noted that there were no solid grounds to justify the child’s detention in the case. The special public prosecutor said that such a case was virtually unheard of. He argued that the course of natural justice states that the child had been used by alleged extortionists and was not involved himself. The child had reportedly been sent by some extortionists to collect money from their victims and was arrested by the police at the scene of the crime.

The case investigation officer had been asked on Wednesday to present a report on the child.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2012.