‘KPC attackers’ set free for want of proof

Karachi

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday ordered police to release seven men arrested for involvement in last Sunday’s attack on the Karachi Press Club, citing the prosecution’s failure to present any proof against the accused.

The suspects, Umair Khan, Obaid Ahmed, Muhammad Raza, Khawaja Raza, Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Qadir and Irfan Khan, had been apprehended by law enforcers after pro-Mumtaz Qadri protesters turned violent outside the KPC, injuring journalists as they tried to break into the premises and later damaging vehicles parked outside the club, including a Jaag TV reporting van that was set on fire by the mob. 

The police submitted a report under Section 497 (2) of the CrPC to the administrative judge of ATCs, stating that there was no concrete evidence available against the above-mentioned accused. The report maintained that witnesses had also not been able to identify the accused. 

Accepting the police report, the court ordered the release of all seven accused. 

At the time of the incident, Artillery Maidan SHO Abdul Ghaffar had said that as many as 70 to 80 people were involved in the KPC melee, including leaders of the student organisation that led the protest.

Banker convicted 

A Special Banking court sentenced a banker to 14 years in jail for misappropriation.

The convict, Muhammad Ameen, was also ordered to pay a fine of Rs3 million, which if not paid would translate into an additional two years in jail.