Terrorism case: Suspected aide to suicide bomber freed, court issues notice to CCPO

ATC says local police cleared all suspects at the crime scene.

PESHAWAR: A Peshawar Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) said the reply of capital city police officer (CCPO) was unsatisfactory after Jehangir, the aide of the would-be suicide bomber Bilal, was set free. Bilal was arrested on November 20.

Last week, ATC Judge Ibrahim Khan had issued a show-cause notice to CCPO Imtiaz Altaf, seeking a reply over why Jehangir was not produced in court while Bilal had appeared twice.

A copy of the CCPO’s reply available to The Express Tribune read that if someone is arrested from the crime scene on suspicion, they are thoroughly investigated for any link or association with the incident. “All such persons were cleared by the local police and were let go,” the CCPO’s reply read.

It further said that Bilal was arrested before he could execute the attack and the standard operating procedure was followed. More than one person was arrested from the spot for verification.

Khan sent the reply along with his observations to the administrative judge of the anti-terrorism court and to Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk of the Peshawar High Court.

Khan’s observations mentioned that the CCPO whisked off and prevaricated to the court’s questions.

Not trusting the accused with the police, the court on Monday ordered to hand over Bilal to the probation officer.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2012.