ATC acquits suspected militants

PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday acquitted two suspected militants of terrorism charges for lack of investigation and contradiction in the statements of witnesses and the bomb disposal squad’s report.

The anti-terrorism court-2 judge passed the order after completion of trial, examining evidence and hearing arguments from both the parties. The court acquitted the accused, Yousaf and Shamsul Haq, residents of Mathra, who were arrested by officials of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on June 26, last year at Bashir Bagh Road.

As per the first information report, the CTD officials claimed that the accused were installing/fixing improvised explosive device (IED) and four kilograms of explosive

along with safety fuse and detonators.

They were charged under sections 7 Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 5 of Explosive Substance Act at CTD police station in Peshawar.During the course of hearing, counsel for the terror suspects, Shabbir Hussain Gigyani, argued that there was contradiction in the statements of official witnesses and bomb disposal squad’s report. The lawyer argued that the investigation into the case was faulty.The prosecution failed to prove the charges against the accused.