ATC gives Hashim Abbasi bail in Rangers killing case

ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) has issued a written decision approving the post-arrest bail of Hashim Abbasi, an accused arrested in the Rangers killing case during the Nov-26 protest.

The court said prima facie there was a case for further inquiry against the accused Hashim Abbasi. Judicial observation would not have any effect on the bail of the co-accused.

ATC Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zulqarnain issued a written decision, in which it was said that the observation of the court was general in nature and it was only to the extent of this case.

The lawyer stated that the accused had been wrongly implicated in the case. According to the lawyer, there was no criminal record of the accused and it was a fabricated case. The prosecutor opposed the bail and said that the accused was involved in a heinous crime. According to the prosecutor, three Rangers died due to the actions of the accused, and there was sufficient material against him. The prosecutor said the witness correctly identified the accused in the identification parade. The court remarked that according to the record, the accused was not named in the FIR, and prima facie his case falls under further inquiry category.

The case regarding the accused would become clear only after a formal review of the evidence, the prosecution failed to satisfy the court that the accused would not comply with the bail conditions. There was no possibility that the accused would try to disrupt the justice system, said the court adding that the higher courts had ruled that bail could not be rejected as a punishment. Therefore, Hashim Ali Abbasi’s bail is granted against bonds of Rs50,000, said the court.