Lack of evidence leads to Sufi Muhammad’s acquittal in five cases
Seven other cases are still pending against the TNSM chief, who is new TTP Chief's father in-law.
The ATC acquitted Sufi Muhammad in a case in which he had been charged with conspiracy against the state and attacking government installations. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad has so far been acquitted in five cases after the prosecution failed to furnish credible evidence against him. Seven cases, including Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Badiuzzaman’s murder dating back to the 1990s, are pending against Muhammad.
Sufi Muhammad is also the father-in-law of the newly-elected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Fazlullah. He is currently incarcerated in Central Prison Peshawar
On October 8, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) acquitted Sufi Muhammad and his associates in a sedition case dating back to 2001. The men were accused of organising a rally against former president General (retd) Pervaiz Musharraf, alleging he was a ‘US agent’.
Others intimated in the case were Maulana Hamdullah and Maulana Khalid. The case had been registered against them by Timergara police under Pakistan Penal Code Section 124A (sedition) and Section 505 (inciting public mischief).
On May 4, the ATC acquitted Sufi Muhammad in a case in which he had been charged with conspiracy against the state and attacking government installations in Matta in Swat around 17 years ago.
The judge had accepted an application for acquittal in line with Code of Criminal Procedure Section 265-K. This empowers the court to acquit an accused before the conclusion of the trail if there is a lack of credible proof.
The other three cases in which Muhammad was acquitted pertained to conspiracy against the state and attacking government installations in Swat some 18 years ago.
After Muhammad was released from a prison in DI Khan on April 21, 2008, he was arrested from Sethi Town, Peshawar along with his three sons on July 6, 2009.
Later, the ATC in Swat acquitted Abdullah, Abdur Rehman and Fazlullah who had been charged for terrorism by Saidu Sharif Police Station on February 16, 2008.
Muhammad was also tried in a terrorism court in Swat but on July 5, 2012 a single-member bench of the Peshawar High Court ordered the transfer of the case from Swat to Central Prison Peshawar.
“Most of the cases registered against Sufi Muhammad are related to conspiracy and attacks against government installations, but he is acquitted due to weak prosecution,” shared a source familiar with the cases.
Out of 10 hearings of the case, Muhammad hardly appears before the court in one or two, he added.
Sufi Muhammad entered peace negotiations with the Awami National Party (ANP)-led government to end violence in Malakand division on February 21, 2008 after the ANP agreed to allow the implementation of Sharia in the area.
Another agreement between the provincial government and TNSM in February 2009 led to the withdrawal of all cases against Sufi Muhammad and his associates. However, peace was not restored in Malakand division and the cases against Muhammad and accomplices were restored.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2013.
Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad has so far been acquitted in five cases after the prosecution failed to furnish credible evidence against him. Seven cases, including Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Badiuzzaman’s murder dating back to the 1990s, are pending against Muhammad.
Sufi Muhammad is also the father-in-law of the newly-elected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Fazlullah. He is currently incarcerated in Central Prison Peshawar
On October 8, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) acquitted Sufi Muhammad and his associates in a sedition case dating back to 2001. The men were accused of organising a rally against former president General (retd) Pervaiz Musharraf, alleging he was a ‘US agent’.
Others intimated in the case were Maulana Hamdullah and Maulana Khalid. The case had been registered against them by Timergara police under Pakistan Penal Code Section 124A (sedition) and Section 505 (inciting public mischief).
On May 4, the ATC acquitted Sufi Muhammad in a case in which he had been charged with conspiracy against the state and attacking government installations in Matta in Swat around 17 years ago.
The judge had accepted an application for acquittal in line with Code of Criminal Procedure Section 265-K. This empowers the court to acquit an accused before the conclusion of the trail if there is a lack of credible proof.
The other three cases in which Muhammad was acquitted pertained to conspiracy against the state and attacking government installations in Swat some 18 years ago.
After Muhammad was released from a prison in DI Khan on April 21, 2008, he was arrested from Sethi Town, Peshawar along with his three sons on July 6, 2009.
Later, the ATC in Swat acquitted Abdullah, Abdur Rehman and Fazlullah who had been charged for terrorism by Saidu Sharif Police Station on February 16, 2008.
Muhammad was also tried in a terrorism court in Swat but on July 5, 2012 a single-member bench of the Peshawar High Court ordered the transfer of the case from Swat to Central Prison Peshawar.
“Most of the cases registered against Sufi Muhammad are related to conspiracy and attacks against government installations, but he is acquitted due to weak prosecution,” shared a source familiar with the cases.
Out of 10 hearings of the case, Muhammad hardly appears before the court in one or two, he added.
Sufi Muhammad entered peace negotiations with the Awami National Party (ANP)-led government to end violence in Malakand division on February 21, 2008 after the ANP agreed to allow the implementation of Sharia in the area.
Another agreement between the provincial government and TNSM in February 2009 led to the withdrawal of all cases against Sufi Muhammad and his associates. However, peace was not restored in Malakand division and the cases against Muhammad and accomplices were restored.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2013.