Bail hearing: Prosecution, police should step up, says SC
Ashraf’s counsel told the court his client had been picked up from Ghalib Market in December last year
A file photo of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Supreme Court on Friday said police and prosecution should bring strong cases against terror suspects if they were serious about curbing terrorism.
He was hearing the bail application of one Amjad Ashraf. A two-member bench had taken up the application.
Ashraf’s counsel told the court his client had been picked up from Ghalib Market in December last year. He said he had been charged under the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance and the Anti-Terrorism Act and had been accused of possessing and distributing banned literature. He said 12 other people had also been picked up from the spot.
Additional Prosecutor General Asjad Javed told the court that Ashraf was a member of a banned outfit and should not be released. Justice Bandial remarked that the prosecution had failed to establish a credible connection between Ashraf and the banned outfit. He said the prosecution should have a strong case against terror suspects if they wanted to put them behind bars.
He also said the investigation officer had failed to collect specific information about those detained.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2015.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Supreme Court on Friday said police and prosecution should bring strong cases against terror suspects if they were serious about curbing terrorism.
He was hearing the bail application of one Amjad Ashraf. A two-member bench had taken up the application.
Ashraf’s counsel told the court his client had been picked up from Ghalib Market in December last year. He said he had been charged under the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance and the Anti-Terrorism Act and had been accused of possessing and distributing banned literature. He said 12 other people had also been picked up from the spot.
Additional Prosecutor General Asjad Javed told the court that Ashraf was a member of a banned outfit and should not be released. Justice Bandial remarked that the prosecution had failed to establish a credible connection between Ashraf and the banned outfit. He said the prosecution should have a strong case against terror suspects if they wanted to put them behind bars.
He also said the investigation officer had failed to collect specific information about those detained.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2015.