ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) here on Thursday dismissed the post-arrest bail application of Kanwal, the wife of Mohammad Sikandar, in the Jinnah Avenue stand-off case.

When ATC Judge Atiqur Rehman took up the plea, Kanwal’s counsel Kalsoom Khaliq contended that her client had nothing to do with the August 15 stand-off and should be granted bail.

The lawyer added that it was Kanwal’s husband who resorted to opening fire into the air and created the fiasco.

“Kanwal did nothing wrong as she was under threat and pressure exerted by her husband not to leave the crime scene.”

The counsel argued that under the circumstance she could not be declared as an accomplice of the gunman.

She said even Kanwal didn’t hold guns in her hands but police charged her under the terrorism act which was an injustice.

Kanwal, who is currently in jail, had in her statement earlier claimed that she was unaware of the fact that her husband was carrying arms and ammunition in the car.

She said she along with her children had come to Islamabad on a visit on the request of her husband.

During the proceedings, police presented a video footage of the stand-off as evidence to show the role of Kanwal in it.

Public prosecutor Syed Mohammad Tayab requested the court to dismiss the bail application as the woman was accomplice in the crime.

He argued that Kanwal should not be given benefit of being a woman as she was equally responsible for the fiasco.

Referring to the video footage, the prosecutor pointed out that Kanwal was giving secret signals to some people who might have been in the area during the stand-off.

She may be treated as the principal accused as she was fully involved in the crime along with her husband, the prosecutor added.

After being convinced from the public prosecutor’s argument, the court rejected the bail plea of the accused.

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...