Insufficient evidence: Malik Ishaq acquitted of terror charges

He was charged with ordering killing of over 100 people from minority sect, attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009.

RAWALPINDI:

An anti-terrorism court on Thursday acquitted Malik Ishaq, the leader of a banned outfit, in three terrorism cases, citing insufficient evidence.

Lashkar-e-Jangvi (LJ) chief Ishaq was produced before Judge Rana Masood Akhtar in ATC-2 on three different terrorism charges.

The judge issued his acquittal order, saying the evidence against Ishaq is insufficient to prove the charges against him.

Rao Abdur Rahim, Ishaq’s lawyer, said the charges levelled against his client were baseless.

Ishaq was charged with ordering the killing of over 100 people from a minority sect and the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009. Cases were registered in various police stations in Punjab including Talagang, Attock and Hazro. He was also held on charges of hate speech and inciting violence.

Ishaq had dissociated himself from the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and found his own faction. However, he rejoined SSP’s successor Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat after negotiations with its chief Ahmad Ludhianvi.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2014.