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The suspect, identified as Khalid Yusuf, was presented by the Counter Terrorism Department before the ATC-III. The police informed the court that the suspect's custody was required for questioning, contending that they had credible information of his involvement in offences falling within the ambit of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The investigation officer told the court that the suspect was an engineer employed by the Pakistan International Airlines and had provided financial aid to militants of alQaeda.
He has also been accused of providing assistance to the criminals who attacked the Ismailis' bus in Safoora Goth on May 13, this year. At least 45 people, including men and women, were killed and many others were injured in the attack.
The court allowed the police to take the suspect for interrogation after listening to the investigating officer. This is the second detention sought by the police under Section 11EEEE of the ATA since the special law's powers were conferred to them.
Section 11EEEE allows armed forces and civil armed forces of the country to grill any person whom they suspect to be involved in terrorism acts for a period of not more than three months for questioning. The particular section was included in the ATA last year following its approval from the parliament.
Earlier, the powers were enjoyed by the Rangers only in the province through which many top men, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Amir Khan and Qamar Mansoor and former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, were grilled.
Separately, the Rangers informed the ATC-II about the 90-day preventive detention of a suspect affiliated with a political party. The paramilitary force told the court that the suspect, Noor Muhammad, was allegedly involved in target killings, extortion, kidnapping and other offences.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 23rd, 2015.
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