Bail denied to opponents of polio drops

PESHAWAR: Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday dismissed the bail petition of two people booked under terrorism charges for distributing pamphlets and asking the people not to administer polio drops to their children. The CTD had arrested the two accused including Muhammad Umrais Mohammadi and Maghfirullah for distributing pamphlets against the polio drops.

During hearing of the bail petition, the public prosecutor submitted that the CTD charged the accused persons under terrorism charges. He said that it was a serious crime as the accused persons through the pamphlets were creating misconception regarding administering polio drops to the children. He said that Pakistan is facing serious problems internationally due to presence of polio cases and thus the accused had committed a serious crime and were not liable to be released on bail.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the ATC judge Muhammad Zafar Khan dismissed bail petition of the accused persons. Separately, the same ATC judge issued release of a suspected terrorist arrested and charged in an attack on Matani Police Station in Peshawar.

The prosecutor submitted that the terror suspect Gul Khan was arrested and charged in an attack on the Matani Police Station. He said that the accused person along with other companions had attacked the police station in 2008. He said that as per the police report he was also involved in other terrorist activities. However, counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the police failed to produce solid evidence against the accused person and thus he should be released on bail.