By-election violence: PHC quashes ATA charges against MNA Bilour, nephew

‘Verbal disputes and quarrels are common during election campaigns’.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) quashed the anti-terrorism charges against MNA Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and his nephew Haroon Bilour which had been levelled during the by-elections.

Both the Bilours had been accused of vandalism inside women polling stations during the by-polls in NA-1.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain cleared the parliamentarian and his nephew’s name. Verbal disputes and quarrels are a common occurrence during election season, stated the bench.



The petitioner’s counsel, Ishtiaq Ibrahim, informed the court Ghulam Bilour was not present at the scene. No shots had been fired or any act of terror committed, said Ibrahim. The charges under Section seven were registered on orders of PTI which now leads the provincial government, claimed Ibrahim.

According to the opposing counsel, weapons had been drawn on polling day. This created fear among the people and constitutes as an act of terror, he argued. The accused should be charged, said the counsel.

Since no shots were fired and no act was committed to terrorise people, the charges registered under the terrorism act against Ghulam and Haroon Bilour are not appropriate, ordered the PHC after hearing both arguments.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.