LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court reached major rulings in a case involving police vehicle burning during the May 9 riots.
The court released 20 acquitted defendants after an identification parade.
Muhammad Naeem, Tayyab Khan, Shahzad Ashraf, Shahzar, Umar Zahoor, Hashaam Sajid, Mannan Ahmad, Asad Abbas, Haji Nawab, Jamal Mohammad, Abdul Moeed, Danish Bashir, Hameed Ishaq, Liaqat Ali, Ehtesham Ali, Mansoor Ahmad, Mohammad Adeel, Raheemullah Khan, and Haseeb Khalid were released
However, 12 other accused received 14-day physical remands, and PTI social media activist Ayesha Ali Bhutta received three. Bail granted to Abdullah Wasim, another activist.
The investigating officer confirmed that none of the prosecution witnesses identified the accused during the identification parade. The court dismissed the accused based on this assessment.
Another Jinnah House attack case extended 80 suspects’ judicial remand. These accused attacked Jinnah House, burned police vehicles, and vandalised public property during the May 9 riots. They will appear in court again on September 2.
After the PTI Chairman arrested for corruption, protests began. These protestors vandalised military and civilian institutions. The court’s discharge of suspects without identification emphasises due process and evidence in judicial processes.