LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday dismissed bail petition of Gullu Butt who was involved in smashing private vehicles outside Minhajul Quran Secretariat during the anti-encroachment operation carried out by the government.

Counsel for the suspect argued before the court that his client smashed the vehicles in reaction to stone pelting by workers of Minhajul Quran. The counsel requested the court to release his client on bail.

A public prosecutor, however, told the court that the suspect had confessed to his crime during interrogation. He said police had recovered a club/stick and a pistol used by Butt. He further said that the suspect was caught red-handed in video footages of different television channels while damaging the vehicles.

Presiding judge Haroon Latif dismissed the bail petition relying on the prosecution's view.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014