Vigil attack: Judgement reserved on bail applications

Adeel, Haq, Awan, Iftikhar say they did not attack participants.

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday reserved judgment on bail petitions moved by four people accused of attacking participants of a candlelight vigil for slain governor Salmaan Taseer on January 4 at Liberty Chowk.

Civil society activists had organised the event to commemorate Taseer. Police had arrested Muhammad Adeel, Muhammad Furqanul Haq, Muhammad Iftikhar and Wazir Ali Awan for attacking the vigil.

Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry appeared before the court on Tuesday as their counsel.

He said that the four had no previous criminal record. “They are law abiding citizens, who cannot even think of committing such a crime. There is no independent evidence available with the prosecution to connect them with the commission of the offence,” he said.

He said that police had failed to uncover any evidence during the physical remand of the accused. He requested the court to grant them bails.

The prosecution said that the men had been armed and had attacked people holding a peaceful protest. “They harassed the participants and threatened to kill them,” the prosecutor said.

The court reserved its judgment and is likely to announce it on Wednesday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.