ATC summons CTD AIG, SSP to produce records in terrorism cases

PESHAWAR: The Anti-Terrorism Special Court on Saturday issued notices to the Additional Inspector General, Counter Terrorism Department (AIG CTD) and Senior Superintendent of Police, (SSP CTD) for failing to produce case records in terrorism-related cases.

ATC Judge Muhammad Iqbal Khan also summoned the officials concerned along with the required records and adjourned the hearing until May 26.

The court written order said that bail applications for three accused nominated in terrorism cases were under consideration but despite repeated notices by the court at every hearing, the required records were not submitted.

During the most recent hearing, the investigation officer informed the court that the record was still under scrutiny and that senior officials had instructed that the records should not be submitted to the court until the verification process was complete.

The court, while taking serious notice of this non-compliance, ordered both the Additional Inspector General, Counter Terrorism Department and SSP CTD to appear before the court on May 26 with the complete records. The short order noted that failure to comply with court directives was increasing the backlog of pending cases.

Both officials have been issued notices under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), and legal action would be taken if the orders were not followed.