14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

PESHAWAR, Feb 13: The Peshawar High Court on Friday dismissed bail petition of two men charged with murder of six people. A bench comprising Justice Malik Hamid Saeed observed that the accused, Hamdullah and Shujaat Khan, were directly charged in the case and they were not entitled to bail at the stage.

The petitioners were charged in an FIR registered at the Batagram police station in the Charsadda district on Aug 13, 2003. The deceased were going to attend court proceedings when their rival group opened fire on them, killing six people.

The bail applications of the petitioners had been dismissed by the lower courts. The motive behind the murders is stated to be an enmity.

The petitioners' counsel contended that Hamdullah was on duty at the Cherat Cement Factory at the time of the occurrence. He said the accused were falsely charged in the case.