SC refuses to entertain PAT plea against Gullu Butt

LAHORE: The Supreme Court, Lahore Registry, refused to entertain an application of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) against the exoneration of Gullu Butt.

The registrar of the SC objected that the PAT was not a complainant in the FIR registered against Butt, therefore, it could not file an appeal against the order of the LHC. The Punjab government was the complainant, therefore, only it can  file an appeal against his exoneration, it added.

Through Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry, the PAT submitted that the LHC had dropped charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act against Butt, which was unjust and against the norms of justice.

He said that Gullu had damaged many vehicles in broad daylight which was aired by many TV channels. He said his act spread a wave of terror, therefore, it was unjust to drop charges of ATA against Gullu and release him.

 The LHC on February 9 had ordered the release of Shahid Aziz alias Gullu Butt on charges of vandalism outside Minhajul Quran Secretariat in Model Town. The court had ordered to drop charges under ATA against him and ordered to release him after completion of his jail term in other charges under the Pakistan Penal Code.

An anti-terrorism court had, on October 30, 2014, awarded Gullu Butt a collective sentence of 11 years and three months under different sections of law. The court had also imposed Rs140,100 fine on the convict. During an anti-encroachment operation outside the residence of Dr Tahirul Qadri in June 2014, Butt had vandalised private cars parked outside the premises in the presence of police. Police personnel did not stop him and were on the contrary seen to be encouraging him. His act of vandalism was caught by TV cameras.