KARACHI, July 14: Two doctors arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack on corps commander's convoy are likely to be exonerated for want of evidence, Dawn learnt here on Wednesday.
Well-placed sources said that police investigators could not find any evidence in support of the charges against Dr Akmal Waheed and his brother Dr Arshad Waheed. As the police remand of the two doctors expires on Thursday, the sources believe that police may move an application in the court in this regard under section 497-B of the PPC.
However, the two doctors are not likely to be released as they have been booked in another case, under anti-terrorism laws, also. According to an unsigned press release, the police said that another FIR No.305/04 had been registered on Wednesday at Gulshan-i-Iqbal police station against the two doctors under sections 11-N, 11-L, 11-H, 11-V and 21-J of the Anti-terrorism Ordinance 1997 read with sections 201, 212, and 216 of the PPC.
They said that these sections pertained to providing terrorists a shelter, medical treatment, and funds besides making arrangements for training of terrorists. Police said that the two doctors had been arrested in the case and would be produced before an anti-terrorism court to seek their police remand.
Sources point out that the case has been registered after disclosure by Shehzad Bajwa, an activist of Jundullah, that he had been provided medical treatment by the two doctors at Shan Hospital in Gulshan-i-Iqbal. Bajwa was shot and wounded during an attack on a Rangers mobile van in March.
Police alleged that the two doctors had also treated Qasim who had sustained injuries during the attack on corps commander's convoy on June 10. On July 3, an anti-terrorism court had remanded the two doctors in police custody till July 15 for interrogation.
Dr Akmal Waheed and Dr Arshad Waheed had gone missing on June 17 while on their way home. Their family, later, received a call seeking a ransom of Rs10 million after which an FIR of their kidnapping had been registered at Jackson police station.
Later, on July 2, the police showed their arrest in connection with their alleged involvement in the attack on corps commander's convoy. According to a spokesman for the Sindh police, both the doctors had been arrested at the Malir level-crossing at 3am while they were travelling in a car (Z-1440) in the limits of Malir City police station.
DEMO: The Joint Action Committee of Doctors, along withfamilies and patients of the two doctors, staged a protest demonstration outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday for the immediate release of the two doctors.
Dr Shershah Syed of the Pakistan Medical Association demanded that the families and lawyers of the arrested doctors be allowed to see them in the lock-up. Dr Misbahul Aziz of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association termed the earlier disappearance of the doctors 'legal kidnapping'. He said that their trial should be carried out in a transparent manner.
