Featured Anti terrorism Courts of Pakistan

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Bannu ATC accepts PTM MNAs' bail request in one case, rejects it in another
August 17, 2019

Ali Wazir (L) and Mohsin Dawar, leaders of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), walk at the venue of a rally in Karachi, May 13, 2018. — Reuters/File
A Bannu antiterrorism court on Saturday granted bail to incarcerated Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) MNAs Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar in one case, but rejected their plea for bail in another case.

The two MNAs — currently imprisoned in Haripur jail — have been nominated in two separate cases pertaining to Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks targeting security forces in North Waziristan.

One first information report (FIR) was registered by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Bannu against the PTM MNAs for allegedly attacking a security check post on May 26 in the Kharqamar area

According to the FIR, both MNAs along with their supporters "attacked the security post".

The second FIR was registered by CTD Bannu following a June 7 IED attack near a security check post in Kharqamar, where an Army convoy was on routine patrol. The incident left three officers and a soldier martyred and four security personnel injured.

Both Wazir and Dawar were already in CTD custody at the time of the IED blast ─ they had been arrested following the May 26 Kharqamar check post attack. Wazir had been taken into custody the day of the attack, while Dawar surrendered himself to security forces a few days later.

The hearing on the request for bail in both cases was conducted by ATC judge Babar Ali Khan today, who via a short order granted the request for bail in the June 7 incident but rejected it for the May 26 case.

Senior prosecutor Fazal Noorani, Arif Bilal and Sardar Abdul Rauf made arguments on behalf of the state whereas the defendants were represented by a team led by Peshawar High Court Bar President Latif Afridi.

Tariq Afghan, a member of the PTM legal team, told DawnNewsTV that they argued before the court that their clients were innocent, adding that they also produced videos and other evidence.

"The videos of the Kharqamar incident clearly showed that they were unarmed and were allowed to enter the area," he contended.

Afghan said that they will challenge the verdict in the high court.

 

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Anti-terrorism court takes into custody mayor Karachi’s passport

Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar — File photo

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court took into custody the passport of Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar on Saturday.

The ATC was hearing a case pertaining to providing treatment to terrorists and had summoned the mayor of the city in this regard.

During the hearing, the ATC judge reprimanded Waseem Akhtar, saying that despite being the mayor of the city he did nothing for it.

The court, in its remarks, said that the passport was given to the mayor for official visits and if he is not using it anymore then he should hand it over.

The court then took into custody the passport from the mayor Karachi.

 

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ATC acquits all suspects in Sahiwal encounter case

October 24, 2019

A special anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Thursday acquitted all suspects in the Sahiwal encounter case giving them the benefit of doubt. — DawnNewsTV/File

A special anti-terrorism court in Lahore on Thursday acquitted all suspects in the Sahiwal encounter case giving them the benefit of doubt.

The court announced the verdict after the suspects' lawyers completed a cross-questioning of the testimonies of government witnesses.

ATC-I Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta heard the case.

During hearings of the case, the court had recorded statements of 49 witnesses, including close relatives of a victim Zeeshan and another victim Mohammad Khalil. During the proceedings, all the suspects appeared before the court.

The injured witnesses [children of Khalil who were accompanying the victim when he was targeted] had not identified the suspects nor were the suspects identified during photogrammetric tests. The court added that the official who had provided the suspects with the weapons said he was returned all the weapons and bullets.

In January, Mohammad Khalil, his wife and their three children were travelling in a car, with their neighbour Zeeshan behind the steering wheel, when Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel stopped the vehicle and opened fire on the passengers suspecting them to be terrorists. Khalil’s two children Umair and Muneeba had survived the attack.

The suspects said that they had information that Zeeshan had links with a terrorist outfit. They also claimed that all the victims were killed in an 'encounter' which turned out to be false after the two minor children narrated facts of the incident to the public.

Initially, the trial was conducted in Sahiwal, however, the Lahore High Court on June 17 shifted the proceedings to Lahore allowing an application filed by the victims' family. The petitioners contended that they had been facing problems while attending trial proceedings in Sahiwal. They also cited security reasons and asked the court to shift the trial proceedings from Sahiwal to Lahore.

 

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ATC cancels Hassaan Niazi's interim bail in PIC attack case

https://nation.com.pk/NewsSource/web-desk
January 02, 2020


A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Thursday canceled the interim bail granted to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s nephew Barrister Hassaan Niazi for “turning up late” in today’s hearing in the case pertaining to the attack on Lahore’s Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) by hundreds of lawyers on December 11, 2019.

An ATC judge expressed annoyance at Niazi when he arrived late in the courtroom while remarking, “You showed up late despite being a lawyer.” “Law is equal for everyone,” the judge stated, and canceled his interim bail.

Hassaan Niazi had offered an unconditional apology, and is likely to file another plea seeking bail in the case to avoid his arrest by the police.

On the other hand, the court extended the interim bails granted to nine other lawyers accused in the PIC attack case till January 6.

The nine lawyers whose bail has been extended include, Abdul Majid, Syed Zain Abbas, Sikander Siddiq, Ali Javed Malik, Osama Moaz, Abdul Rehman Butt, Rana Adeel, Umar Ghori and Chaudhry Muzammil.

On Dec 20, Niazi obtained an interim bail in the same case from the court, and denied his involvement in any offence at a press conference.

During the hearing, he had contended that he has nothing to do with the PIC attack as the police unlawfully named him in the case.

Hassan Niazi said he had wanted to join police investigation into the case to prove his innocence but fears his arrest as the police have been carrying out raids to apprehend him.

After hearing initial arguments, the court had approved the bail for the accused against a surety bond of Rs100,000.

Niazi, was seen pelting stones and breaking a police mobile in a CCTV footage during the PIC attack. He had also taken pictures with his friends outside the hospital.

Niazi, the son of Hafizullah Niazi, was among more than 250 lawyers who had stormed the hospital last week, vandalised property and damaged dozens of vehicles, besides setting ablaze a police van.

Police had conducted multiple raids to arrest him in the attack case but were unable to catch him.

 

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ATC sentences TLP chief's brother, nephew to 55 years in prison


January 17, 2020
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2139201/1-atc-sentences-tlp-chiefs-brother-nephew-55-years-prison/

TLP supporters on a blocked street during protests. PHOTO:AFP

ISLAMABAD: The brother and nephew of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s (TLP) chief Khadim Hussain Rizvi, including 86 workers and supporters of the party, were sentenced to 55 years in prison each by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi.

The ATC passed the verdict in a case related to riots and clashes with local law enforcement after the party chief was arrested in 2018.

Rizvi’s brother Ameer Hussain Rizvi and nephew Mohammad Ali, along with other convicts, were also ordered to collectively submit around Rs13 million in fines. Failing to do so would mean another 146 years imprisonment. The court also ordered the authorities to seize their movable and immovable assets.

After the judgment was announced, the convicts were moved to Attock jail by Punjab’s Elite Force under heavy security.

In November 2019, an ATC indicted Rizvi, party’s patron-in-chief Peer Afzal Qadri and others in a case registered after the party’s agitation and protests in the wake of Oct 2018 acquittal of blasphemy accused Aasia Bibi.

‎Rizvi and several senior figures were detained after they shut down major cities in protest at the acquittal of a Christian woman who had spent eight years on death row on blasphemy charges.

When Rizvi was finally detained, authorities said he was not arrested, but merely put in “protective custody”. More than 3,000 TLP members were taken into protective custody in the wake of the protests.

 

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ATC to announce verdict on six cases against Hafiz Saeed, by end of week


FEBRUARY 11, 2020

LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Tuesday accepted for hearing a petition seeking the simultaneous hearing and verdict of six cases against Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and his associates.


According to Deputy Prosecutor General Abdul Rauf Wattoo, in total six cases against the said individuals were pending before the same court, adding that in four of these cases presentation of evidence was in progress.

Wattoo said hearing of all four remaining cases will be concluded simultaneously at the end of the week, which is when the court will issue its verdicts. The court has already reserved its verdicts in two of the cases. The reserved verdicts, which relate to terror financing cases, will also be announced with those on other cases at the end of the week, he added.


During the trial of both cases, the court recorded the statements of 23 witnesses.

The JuD chief was arrested by CTD in July last year, while he was travelling from Lahore to Gujranwala, said Dawn news.


Prior to his arrest, 23 first information reports had been registered against JuD leaders at CTD police stations of Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, Faisalabad and Sargodha in July 2019.

According to the CTD, JuD was financing terrorism from the massive funds collected through non-profit organisations and trusts including. These non-profit organisations were banned in April last year as the CTD, during detailed investigations, found that they had links with the JuD and its top leadership.

 

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ATC awards 15 yrs jail term, fine to two members of banned group

The Frontier Post
August 22, 2020

KARACHI (INP): An anti-terrorism court handed jail term with fine to two members of an outlawed group after charges of illegal funding and land grabbing in Surjani Town here was proved against them.
The ATC court awarded 15-and-half years’ jail sentence and imposed 80,000 rupees fine to Mohammad bin Shehzad and Rehan, two operatives of a banned group.

The convicts would have to undergo 14 months more imprisonment if they failed to pay the fine.
The ATC Judge also ordered inquiry over adding a member of the banned group in the witnesses of prosecution.

“The investigation officer tried to weaken the case by presenting a member of the banned group as prosecution witness,” the court observed.
The court ordered the A.I.G counter terrorism department to institute an inquiry and take action against the investigation officer of case within 30 days. The court also questioned that if the encroached land was returned back to the members of the banned group after freeing it from illegal possession.

The court issued order to the Chief Secretary to revisit and reconsider the matter. The court in its observations noted that electricity and gas connections should not be given to illegally encroached plots, as it results in power and gas load shedding.

“The power and gas connections to encroached plots, could not be possible without support from the concerned staff of the gas and power companies,” the court observed.
The court also ordered to dispatch a copy of its verdict to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

 

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ATC records statements of two more witnesses in Motorway gang-rape case

The Frontier Post
March 8, 2021

LAHORE (APP): An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday recorded statements of two more prosecution witnesses during the hearing of Motorway gang-rape case in jail.

Deputy Prosecutor General Hafiz Asghar told APP that the court recorded statements of a lady doctor and a lady head constable during the proceedings on Monday, whereas the defence counsel cross examined them. He stated that the defence counsel also completed cross examination from two forensic experts.The court adjourned further proceedings till March 11.

ATC Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta conducted the case hearing at Camp Jail, wherein jail authorities produced Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali, prime accused and co-accused.

Deputy Prosecutor General Hafiz Asghar and Deputy Prosecutor General Waqar Bhatti represented the prosecution whereas advocates Sher Gull Qureshi and Qasim Arain appeared on behalf of the accused.

The court had recorded statements of 25 prosecution witnesses so far after the accused denied the charges on being indicted. The Gujjarpura police had filed a challan against the accused, wherein they were declared guilty. The police had requested the court for awarding strict punishment to the accused as sufficient evidence was available against them. The police had also submitted a list of 53 witnesses.

On September 9, the accused – Abid Malhi and Shafqat Ali, allegedly raped a woman at gunpoint in Gujjarpura area while she was waiting for help on the motorway after her car ran out of fuel. An FIR of the incident was lodged with the Gujjarpura police under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

 

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ATC remands Sindh tribal chief accused of abetting dacoits in 7-day police custody


Mohammad Hussain Khan
May 27, 2021


An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Kandhkot on Wednesday remanded Sardar Teghu Khan Teghani in police custody for seven days.

Teghani was booked under clauses of the Anti Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code for harbouring dacoits and abetting criminals against police after the May 23 murders of three people, including two policemen, by a gang of dacoits inside the riverine area of Khanpur in Shikarpur district.

He was later arrested from the Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi along with half a dozen other family members and servants and was shifted to Shikarpur to bring his arrest on record officially.

Teghani is considered an influential man in Upper Sindh's Garhi Teghu area and holds considerable influence among dacoits. He often helped police in getting hostages released and was awarded with a peace award by the police last year.

“I am being politically victimised,” he said in a brief chat with journalists of Kandhkot in the ATC before being remanded into police custody. “I will no longer be supporting MPAs of PPP, Sardar Abid Sundhrani and Sindh minister Shabbir Ali Bajarani,” Teghani said.

“I always helped police and this is how I am being rewarded by them,” he said.

Teghani had played a role in securing the release of a folk musician, Jigar Jalal Chandio, who was kidnapped in 2019. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rao Shafiullah was a part of the operation in Kandhkot area to recover the hostages but was killed. His subordinate, Babar, was wounded in the encounter in August 2019.

Upper Sindh police — mainly in Kandhkot and Shikarpur districts — are engaged in a police operation after the murders of nine Chachar community members in Kandhkot on May 15. Police authorities were not able to produce evidence of eight dacoits they claimed to have killed in Khanpur area after the May 15 killings.

Police hierarchy changed in Shikarpur
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has once again opted for senior-level changes in police in the upper Larkana range following Sindh chief minister's visit to Shikarpur.

The chief minister is said to have expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of police in the operation against dacoits.

Larkana DIG Police Nasir Aftab Pathan has been transferred and asked to report to Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) while Shikarpur SSP Amir Saud Magsi has been posted as SSP Benazirabad. SSP Tanvir Tunio has replaced Magsi in Shikarpur.

Magsi was only recently posted in Shikarpur after SSP Kamran Panjota was removed.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had said during his visit to Shikarpur that police would continue the operation in the riverine area to cleanse it of dacoits.

“Help of other law enforcement agencies can be sought if required,” CM Shah had said in a firm tone while answering the questions of journalists in the backdrop of the two major incidents of May 15 and May 23.

On May 15 — the third day of Eidul Fitr — Sabzois backed by Jagiranis had struck at Zaman Chachar village and killed nine villagers in the attack, which had apparently come on the heels of a police operation launched by Kandhkot-Kashmore district police led by SSP Amjad Shaikh in Oct-Nov 2020.

Six Jagiranis including the wife, son and nephew of notorious dacoit Jiand Jagirani were gunned down in that operation. A Jagirani member carries head money of Rs500,000 as announced by the Sindh government.

“Since then Jagiranis and Sabzois have fled to Garhi Teghu in Shikarpur district but we have been able to clear a considerable part of the katcha area in Kandhkot. We have set ablaze hideouts of dacoits and we are gaining ground inside the area now,” SSP Shaikh said over the phone from Kandhkot.

“We are in an advantageous position because we have cut communication and supplies. Police are deployed on the route leading to Garhi Teghu,” he claimed. These areas, he said, were earlier inaccessible.

The May 15 incident took place in Durrani-Mahar police station area of Kandhkot. Jiand Jagirani believed that the Chachars had facilitated Kandhkot police by providing them access through their area to reach the Jaigranis.

The Jagiranis have opposed authorities' construction of the Kandhkot-Ghotki bridge which resulted in a police operation against them last year.

Work on the bridge, which would connect Kandhkot with Ghotki district, was temporarily suspended. Kandhkot is a district located to the east of the Indus River and Ghotki is located to the west of the Indus River.

Riverine area

Sindh’s riverine area spreads over hundreds of thousands of acres between the two main banks of the Indus. It stretches up to 30 to 40 kilometers at some locations and gets narrower, running parallel to the Indus highway at other locations. The riverine area has always been considered a safe haven for dacoits.

The area remains quite tricky in terms of infrastructure. It is the bed of the mighty Indus River where natural freshwater lakes, thick forests, and high lands exist. Outsiders can’t travel easily or move around in the area due to security concerns.

Large tracts of katcha land belonging to the forest department were brought under cultivation of cash crops on the basis of the agroforestry lease policy which was struck down by the Supreme Court and the Sindh High Court's Sukkur bench.

The katcha area is known for its rich soil fertility due to silt deposits that the Indus River brings in the monsoon season. A water flow of 500,000 cusecs or more in the river causes the water to touch both sides of the banks, inundating the riverbed in the entire area.

Crops are cultivated on residual moistures and groundwater, which gets refilled due to floodwater and is excessively used for cultivation. Many influentials including politicians, police officers and bureaucrats also hold large swathes of land for crop cultivation.

 

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