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Another twist to district courts attack case
MALIK ASAD
Policemen inspect a local court building after a gun and bomb attack in Islamabad, March 3. — File photo
Published 2014-03-08 07:07:06
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ISLAMABAD: The district courts attack case took another twist on Friday when the gunman of the slain additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) denied allegations of shooting him.
ADSJ Rafaqat Ahmed Khan Awan and 11 other people were killed during the attack on the district courts premises on March 3.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday told the National Assembly that the ADSJ was killed from the bullets accidentally fired by his own gunman, Babar Hussain.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted to probe the March 3 terror attack has already taken Hussain into custody and on Friday produced him before Special Judge Anti-Terrorism Court Atiqur Rehman to obtain his physical remand.
As judge Rehman has banned the entry of mediapersons into his courtroom since August last year, the media could not cover the proceedings. However, sources close to the development said the gunman contradicted the statement of the interior minister and pleaded not guilty.
The sources said Hussain informed the ATC judge that he was with the ADSJ Awan when the terrorists stormed the courtroom and tried to enter his chamber.
The terrorists broke the door of the chamber and shot ADSJ Awan in the chest, the sources quoted the gunman as saying.
When contacted, Naseer Kayani, the president of the Islamabad Bar Association, said the statement of the interior minister was highly condemnable. He said the minister had tried to divert the case to some other directions by giving such a misleading statement.
Mr Kayani expressed the possibility that the police might have pressured Hussain to make a fake confession in order to save their skin.
“The bar will file an application with the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the irresponsible statement of the interior minister, implicating an innocent man in the crime,” he added.
Dr Arif Alvi, Member National Assembly (MNA) of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), while talking to Dawn said the interior minister had on Thursday expressed the possibility that bullets accidentally fired by the gunman might have hit and killed the ADSJ.
He said when the case was under investigation, it was premature to comment on the matter.
When contacted, Danial Gillani, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said the case was under investigation. “The exact detail of the tragic incident can only be given after the JIT submits its report,” he added.
MALIK ASAD
Policemen inspect a local court building after a gun and bomb attack in Islamabad, March 3. — File photo
Published 2014-03-08 07:07:06
Share
0 Comment(s)
ISLAMABAD: The district courts attack case took another twist on Friday when the gunman of the slain additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) denied allegations of shooting him.
ADSJ Rafaqat Ahmed Khan Awan and 11 other people were killed during the attack on the district courts premises on March 3.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday told the National Assembly that the ADSJ was killed from the bullets accidentally fired by his own gunman, Babar Hussain.
The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted to probe the March 3 terror attack has already taken Hussain into custody and on Friday produced him before Special Judge Anti-Terrorism Court Atiqur Rehman to obtain his physical remand.
As judge Rehman has banned the entry of mediapersons into his courtroom since August last year, the media could not cover the proceedings. However, sources close to the development said the gunman contradicted the statement of the interior minister and pleaded not guilty.
The sources said Hussain informed the ATC judge that he was with the ADSJ Awan when the terrorists stormed the courtroom and tried to enter his chamber.
The terrorists broke the door of the chamber and shot ADSJ Awan in the chest, the sources quoted the gunman as saying.
When contacted, Naseer Kayani, the president of the Islamabad Bar Association, said the statement of the interior minister was highly condemnable. He said the minister had tried to divert the case to some other directions by giving such a misleading statement.
Mr Kayani expressed the possibility that the police might have pressured Hussain to make a fake confession in order to save their skin.
“The bar will file an application with the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the irresponsible statement of the interior minister, implicating an innocent man in the crime,” he added.
Dr Arif Alvi, Member National Assembly (MNA) of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), while talking to Dawn said the interior minister had on Thursday expressed the possibility that bullets accidentally fired by the gunman might have hit and killed the ADSJ.
He said when the case was under investigation, it was premature to comment on the matter.
When contacted, Danial Gillani, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said the case was under investigation. “The exact detail of the tragic incident can only be given after the JIT submits its report,” he added.
