Manawan attack: Convict’s appeal dismissed

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench on Wednesday dismissed an appeal against conviction of a man serving a prison term for attacking the Manawan Police Training school in March 2009. Earlier, the defence counsel said that Hijratullah alias Shakirullah, a resident of Charsadda, was arrested by the police only to avoid castigation from high ups. The prosecution stated that during investigation Hijratullah had told the police that he had undergone militant training under Baitullah Mehsood. Hijratullah had been given a 10-year sentence by an anti-terrorism court in 2009 for his involvement in the Manawan attack. Prosecution had said that Hijratullah and 12 others attacked the facility. He used grenades in the assault that left 22 policemen dead and over 100 injured. A military team that was sent to defend the facility arrested Hijratullah and recovered a grenade, a dagger and some papers from his possession. An FIR was then lodged in the incident under the Explosive Substances Act of 1908, the Arms Ordinance and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.

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