JSQM leader acquitted in Bahria Town violence cases for lack of evidence

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday exonerated Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) chairman Sanan Khan Qureshi and 43 others from all charges pertaining to violence during a protest demonstration against Bahria Town Karachi at its housing scheme in 2021.

Sanan Qureshi, along with other nationalist leaders and activists, was booked for allegedly chanting anti-state slogans, resorting to violence, ransacking, and torching private properties in Bahria Town during their protest on June 6, 2021 on a call given by the Sindh Action Committee (SAC).

Over 100 people, including Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Sindh United Party chairman Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, and Jeay Sindh Mahaz leader Abdul Khaliq Junejo, were discharged from cases by the investigation officer for lack of evidence. However, Sanan and over 40 others went on to face trial in these case.

On Thursday, the ATC-XV judge, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the prison, announced his judgement after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides.

He ruled that the prosecution failed to substantiate its charges against all the accused, acquitting them in two cases. Sanan had already been granted bail in the case.

According to the prosecution, two FIRs were lodged at the Gadap City police station against nationalist leaders and their workers, who gathered outside the main gate of BTK on June 6. The leaders allegedly delivered speeches against the project and incited their workers to violence, it said, adding that the protesters removed barricades, manhandled the security staff and torched the main gate of the project.

It was alleged that the protesters entered the commercial area, ransacked two shops, three ATMs, looted money and torched five restaurants.

On the other hand, defence counsel Kazim Hussain Mahesar and Muhammad Khan Shaikh contended that there was no evidence on record to connect their clients with the commissioning of the alleged offences. They pointed out that there were contradictions in the statements of prosecution witnesses, who cannot be relied for conviction, adding that not a single witness identified any of the accused nor was any CCTV footage produced in court to show the accused’s involvement in the cases.

Moreover, the counsel went on, there were even contradictions in the two FIRs -- one registered on behalf of the state through Gadap City SHO and the other on the complainant of the BTK security manager. They added the protesters had gathered to record their peaceful protest against the illegal project and were not involved in any illegal activities as alleged in the FIRs. The court was therefore pleaded to acquit them for lack of evidence.