Process starts to declare Qadri ‘proclaimed offender’

LAHORE: Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Judge Rai Ayub Khan Marth on Monday started proceedings against PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and others to declare them proclaim offenders in the cases registered on the charges of inciting violence against the state and attacking police officials.
Hassan Mohiyuddin and Hussain Mohiyuddin (both sons of Qadri), PAT President Raheeq Abbasi, Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, Sheikh Fayyaz and Shabbir Fayyaz are the other accused.
They are nominated in three different FIRs - 661, 662 and 663/14 - registered with Faisal Town Police Station in connection with the Model Town incident under Sections 302/34, 324, 353, 148,149, 290, 291 of Pakistan Penal Code and 7-Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.
The ATC directed the court officials to paste notices on their residences and at different places. The court notices will also be published in newspapers for informing them to ensure appearing in person before the court.
In case of a failure to comply with the orders within a 30-day period, the court will declare them proclaim offenders after recording the officials’ statements.
The proceedings have been started after an application was moved by the joint investigation team (JIT) which stated that they raided different places to ensure arrests but could not find them.
The team said the accused were in hiding and intentionally avoiding becoming part of investigation and appearing before the court. The court will resume hearing on February 25.
Earlier on November 26 last year, the same court had issued perpetual warrants of Gandapur, Altaf Shah and other party leaders in a case registered against them for attacking police during the Model Town incident after they failed to appear in person despite being summoned and issuance of arrest warrants repeatedly.