LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of the accused allegedly involved in attacking a candlelit vigil at Liberty Chowk to mark death anniversary of slain governor Salman Taseer.

Gulburg CIA police had arrested Furqan, Adeel, Wazir Ali and Iftikhar Ali in connection with the attack on civil society members who had gathered to light candles to mark the fourth death anniversary of the slain governor.

Read:FIR registered over attack on vigil to commemorate Salman Taseer

The counsel for the accused sought bail for his clients on the ground that they were students.

The prosecution opposed the bail plea and stated the accused represented a mindset that was opposed to late Salman Taseer and they were not eligible for any relief.

Also read: Taseer vigil ‘attackers’ on physical remand

The court heard the arguments from both sides and rejected the bail request.

The accused were identified by the police with the help a video footage of the attack and were arrested.

Summoned: An additional district and sessions judge on Wednesday summoned the petitioner woman, who had accused Idara Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and other leaders of not paying her the promised money for participating in the Islamabad sit-in.

Hajan Momina approached the court for registration of a criminal case against Dr Qadri, his son Hasan Mahayuddin, daughter Fatima and Pakistan Awami Tehreek President Raheeq Abbasi for not paying Rs3,500 per day to each woman of her seven-member group for participating in the Inqilab march and sit-in at Islamabad.

The Faisal Town station house officer told the court the petitioner had levelled false allegations against the respondents. He said membership of the petitioner could not be verified from the organisation’s record.

Judge Masood Husain adjourned hearing till Feb 4 due to the absence of the petitioner and directed her to appear on the next date.

DISPOSED OF: A sessions court on Wednesday restrained Sabzazaar police from harassing a newly-wed Christian couple, who also embraced Islam before marriage.

Ayesha Batool filed a petition and stated she contracted marriage with Muhammad Arshad of Bakar Mandi of her own free will. She said they both embraced Islam before their nikkah.

The petitioner alleged her father, Amin Masih, and three brothers with the help of Sabzazar police had threatened them for divorce.

The court disposed of the petition with a direction to the Sabzazar SHO not to harass the petitioner.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2015

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