Gujranwala ATC frames charges against SHO

ATC Gujranwala framed charges on SHO Shahzad Warraich the main accused in the killings of two lawyers in DASKA

LAHORE:

The Anti-Terrorism Court in Gujranwala framed charges on former Station House Officer (SHO) Shahzad Warraich — the main accused in the killings of two lawyers, including the president of the local bar association, in the Daska incident. 

Two lawyers—DASKA Bar Association president Rana Khalid Abbas and Advocate Irfan Chohan— were killed while one lawyer and two civilians were injured when the accused SHO allegedly opened fire on protesting lawyers near the Daska police station after a scuffle broke out between the lawyers and police officials.

District and Sessions Judge Bushra Zaman framed charges on SHO Warraich who rebuffed them contending “he was innocent”.

It is worth mentioning that during the previous proceeding the accused moved an application seeking removal of Section 7 ATA from the FIR.

In previous proceedings, the court had given the accused an opportunity to hire a counsel for himself.

However on Monday, the court directed the accused to appoint a state counsel if he could not hire his own counsel.

Upon this the former SHO sought time for one day to deliberate over the option contending that he was already in negotiations with two lawyers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2015.