‘Insufficient evidence’: ATC acquits three suspects in attack on polio team

Six health workers were killed on December 19 in Peshawar, Charsadda and Karachi.

PESHAWAR: The Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday acquitted three suspects involved in the double homicide of a female polio vaccinator and her driver after ‘sufficient evidence’ could not be produced in court.

ATC Judge Anwer Hussain was informed Darwaish, Qari Roohullah Shah and Midrar Ullah were allegedly involved in the killing of polio vaccinator, Zakai, and her driver Ayaz in Shabqadar, Charsadda on December 19, 2012. A seemingly coordinated string of attacks in Peshawar, Charsadda and Karachi claimed the lives of six health workers that day.

Representing the three suspects, Advocate Kifayatullah Shahabkhel told the court there was no proof with the prosecution’s application to indicate the involvement of his clients. After hearing arguments of both sides, the judge ordered the accused be released.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2013.