Lashari murder case: ‘ATCs empowered to try juveniles’

KARACHI:

The request of a juvenile suspect, Salman Abro, to try him in a murder case in an ordinary court was dismissed by the anti-terrorism court, after the prosecution argued the ATC was empowered to try juveniles.

Judge Saleem Raza Baloch dismissed the application to transfer the case to an ordinary court.

Abro, along with five of his father's police guards, is booked for allegedly killing 18-year-old Suleman Lashari after breaking into the latter's house in May, last year. Abro, who is the prime suspect, was declared a juvenile earlier.

On the basis of his juvenility, his lawyer filed an application under Section 4 of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance to seek concessions entitled to juvenile suspects. The lawyer contended that the ATC was not a juvenile court. Therefore, his case may be transferred to a sessions court for trial.

On the other hand, the state prosecutor argued that the application was not maintainable for hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2015.