LHC gives ex-DPO time to engage counsel
Earlier the bench issued a notice to Chohan, seeking cancellation of his bail.
SIALKOT:
A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday gave time to former district police officer Sialkot, Waqar Ahmad Chohan, to engage a counsel for the hearing of Punjab government’s appeal against his bail in the Sialkot lynching case.
As the proceedings began, Chohan appeared before the court and sought time to engage a counsel. The bench accepted his request and granted him time till November 8.
Previously, the bench comprising Chief Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif and Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh issued a notice to Chohan on the petition of the Punjab government, seeking cancellation of his bail.
An anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala ordered Chohan’s release on bail upon furnishing surety bonds worth Rs100,000. Chohan is among five other policemen arrested in connection with the Sialkot lynching case. The other five include Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Yasin, Mohammad Akram, Nadir Hussain and Naseer Ahmed.
The appellate/state counsel Eihtisham Qadir submitted that the former DPO was not entitled to the bail as his part had been described as that of a supervisor in the FIR. He said Chohan had allowed the mob to take the bodies to the village and had also let them lynch the two teenaged brothers Hafiz Moghees and Muneeb.
Qadir said the offence falls under section 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and such a criminal could not be granted bail. He requested that the bail granted to Chohan by the trial court be cancelled so that justice could prevail.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2010.
A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday gave time to former district police officer Sialkot, Waqar Ahmad Chohan, to engage a counsel for the hearing of Punjab government’s appeal against his bail in the Sialkot lynching case.
As the proceedings began, Chohan appeared before the court and sought time to engage a counsel. The bench accepted his request and granted him time till November 8.
Previously, the bench comprising Chief Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif and Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh issued a notice to Chohan on the petition of the Punjab government, seeking cancellation of his bail.
An anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala ordered Chohan’s release on bail upon furnishing surety bonds worth Rs100,000. Chohan is among five other policemen arrested in connection with the Sialkot lynching case. The other five include Bashir Ahmed, Mohammad Yasin, Mohammad Akram, Nadir Hussain and Naseer Ahmed.
The appellate/state counsel Eihtisham Qadir submitted that the former DPO was not entitled to the bail as his part had been described as that of a supervisor in the FIR. He said Chohan had allowed the mob to take the bodies to the village and had also let them lynch the two teenaged brothers Hafiz Moghees and Muneeb.
Qadir said the offence falls under section 21 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and such a criminal could not be granted bail. He requested that the bail granted to Chohan by the trial court be cancelled so that justice could prevail.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2010.