Possessing cache of arms: ASH official accused in terrorist activities sent to jail

ATC seeks charge sheet against Abbasi Shaheed Hospital finance director Fariduddin

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court sought on Tuesday the charge sheet against an Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) official accused of possessing a large cache of illegal arms and ammunitions.

The order came after the investigators presented Fariduddin, ASH finance director, before the ATC-II following the expiry of his two-week physical remand in police custody. Fariduddin was arrested in early July by the Rangers and subsequently taken into a 90-day preventive detention. The Rangers claimed to have 'credible information' for his involvement in terrorism activities.

Later, Fariduddin was handed over to police and a formal case was registered against him. According to the investigators, he led to the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunitions, including Kalashnikovs and sub-machine guns, from Khajji Ground in Liaquatabad.

The weapons were dumped in the ground in a bid to secure them from being seized by the law enforcement agencies during a raid, said the officials. It is suspected that the weapons have been used in target killings and other terrorism acts in the city, the officials added. The forensic examination report of the weapons is yet to be released.

The ATC-II judge sent Fariduddin to jail custody on a judicial remand for 14 days, directing the investigation officer to submit the charge sheet at the next hearing of the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th,  2015.