Right number, wrong person?: PHC releases alleged extortionist on bail

Defence lawyer says phone used to make threating calls owned by another individual.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday ordered the release of an alleged extortionist on bail, a man who tried to force money out from a construction contractor. The accused, Dilbar from Urmar, is said to be affiliated with a militant organisation.

The release on bail was issued by Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain on the condition of a surety bond worth Rs0.3 million.



The PHC was told by Samiullah Afridi, counsel for the accused, that his client was arrested on August 19 by the police who claimed Dilbar had called construction contractor Younis Khan in an extortion bid.

According to Afridi, the FIR states the accused showed himself as an affiliate of a militant group and demanded Rs30 million from Younis, also from Urmar. The police traced the call and arrested him, said the lawyer.

However, the number which the police had traced the call to is registered under the name of Muhammad Jamil, said Afridi. He argued since the police only has evidence of a call made from that phone and no other documentary proof against his client, they cannot prove Dilbar was involved. Afridi asked the court to release his client on bail.

After hearing arguments, the PHC ordered the accused be released on bail after submitting a surety bond for Rs0.3 million.



The case file of the accused showed he had approached the lowers courts for bail but was unsuccessful. It further shows the police have registered various FIRs against him: Dilbar has been charged under Section 387 (making a person fear death in a bid to commit extortion), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 365-A (kidnapping for the purpose of extorting property, valuables, etc) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2014.