Manawan attack: LHC bench to hear arguments on April 27

Prosecution has requested LHC to sentence Hijratullah to life imprisonment.

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench issued notices on Tuesday to the respondent while hearing the prosecution’s appeal against a man convicted of trying to destroy a military helicopter during a terrorist attack on Manawan police training centre.

On March 30, 2009, a group of terrorists had attacked the police academy. Twenty-two policemen were killed in the attack and 100 others were injured. Police later arrested Hijratullah from the nearby field with a hand-grenade and claimed that he had tried to blow up an army helicopter that had landed nearby.

An FIR under the Explosive Substances Act 1908, 13(20)65 of Arms Ordinance and Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act was registered against him.

On October 19, 2009, an anti-terrorist court sentenced Hijratullah to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The prosecution argued that the sentence is too light.

It says Hijratullah had confessed that Baitullah Mehsood had instructed him to carry out terrorist activities.

“Twelve witnesses identified Hijratullah in the trial court... He deserves life imprisonment, not 10 years,” the prosecution says.

The prosecution has requested the LHC to modify the judgment of the trial court and sentence the accused to life imprisonment.

The LHC bench has asked Hijratullah’s counsel and the appellant to appear for arguments on April 27.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2015.