LeJ activists Ishaq, Asim likely to be tried by military courts

Though the anti-terrorism court (ATC) hearing the murder case of Amjad Sabiri and other high-profile cases against Asim alias Capri and Ishaq alias Bobby has fixed May 28 for the next hearing, it has been learnt that the home department has decided to refer the cases against the two alleged Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) terrorists for trial in military courts.

A meeting attended by senior police officers was recently held at the home department to discuss the cases pending before ATCs. 

After examining the proofs available against the two alleged LeJ activists – including confessional statements recorded under Section 164 of CrPc – the meeting participants decided there was enough evidence of their involvement in murders of army personnel, qawwal Amjad Sabri and others to refer the cases for trial in military courts. 

The decision comes in the wake of multiple adjourned ATC hearings as each time the court ordered for the suspects to be presented for hearings, it was informed by the authorities concerned that security risks were too high for them to be moved from the jail premises.

The case investigation officers had repeatedly told the court that the home department had been asked to facilitate in-prison hearings of the case. However, after persistent delays in the trial, it seems the cases would be sent on to the military courts.

DIG’s son murdered

The judicial magistrate for District East extended for two days the physical remand of Constable Faqeer Muhammad who is accused of killing Umair Shahab, the son of a Peshawar DIG.

SSP Aslam case

Non-bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah Fazalullah, its then spokesman Shahidullah Shahid and others accused of involvement in the murder of SSP Chaudhry Aslam.  Two accused Zafar alias Saaein and Ubaid alias Aadbi are under detention and being tried before an ATC. Chaudhry Aslam and two other policemen were murdered in a suicide bomb attack in 2013.