Inciting violence: ATC declares seven MWM leaders as absconders

Judge says suspects avoiding arrest despite committing a crime.


Our Correspondent May 07, 2015
All these sections deal with inciting violence and spreading sectarian hatred. PHOTO: NNI

GILGIT: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) declared seven members of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen  (MWM) to be fugitives in a case related to inciting violence. It ordered them to appear in the next hearing. The suspects have been charged with inciting hatred during a public rally against Saudi Arabia.

The court warned failure to appear would lead to an ex parte decision.

“You have been avoiding arrest despite committing a crime,” read an advertisement published in local newspapers on Thursday. MWM leaders were booked under sections 124-A, 505, 295-A, 8-A and 9 of the anti-terrorism act last month.

All these sections deal with inciting violence and spreading sectarian hatred.

Justice Raja Shahbaz Khan summoned suspects Sheikh Bilal Sumayri, Sheikh Shahadat Hussain, Sheikh Issa, Mathar Abbas, Ghulam Abbas, Jamal Haider and Sheikh Nayyar Abbas to appear in court on May 14.

The court proceedings are believed to be a significant blow to MWM which plans to contest upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly elections.

Swimming banned

The district administration on Thursday placed a ban on swimming in Gilgit River to avoid any untoward incident.

“The ban is in the interest of the people as water flow has increased,” read a letter by Gilgit Assistant Commissioner Hamza Salick.

According to locals, almost two dozen boys have drowned while swimming in Gilgit River over the last two years.

The ban will remain effective till June, added the letter addressed to the police and media.

Illegal constructions

The administration has also taken stock of illegal constructions on government land.

On Thursday, the administration imposed Section 144 in Gilgit to keep encroachers and land grabbers away from public property. According to Salick, the ban will be effective in Gilgit, Basin, Nagral, Sakarkoi, Chilmisdas, Nomal, Konodas and KIU
till June.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8th, 2015.

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