KARACHI: An antiterrorism court acquitted on Monday two accused in an extortion case and issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer of the case for conducting faulty investigation.

Azhar alias Mullah and Farhad alias Sarfaraz were charged with taking protection money from a factory manager in December 2013 in Shershah by issuing him death threats.

Judge Mohammad Javed Alam of the ATC-V acquitted both accused after recording evidence of witnesses and final arguments from both sides.

The court issued a show-cause notice to the IO of the case, Inspector Raja Jahangir Ahmed, under Section 27 (punishment for defective investigation) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

According to the prosecution, the accused had taken Rs5,000 protection money from Usman Ghani in a factory by issuing him death threats and endangering his life. Asim and Arshad were absconders in the case.

A case was registered under Sections 358 (putting person in fear of injury in order to commit extortion), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or of grievous hurt), 506-B (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the ATA on a complaint lodged by the victim.

Life warrants for alleged extortionists

An antiterrorism court on Monday issued perpetual warrants for the arrest of two alleged extortionists after the police informed the court that they had fled aboard. Arsalan, an employee of a courier company, has been charged with delivering envelopes, containing bullets as well as death threats and extortion demands, to doctors of an ENT Hospital in Saudabad in December 2013.

On a previous hearing, the investigating officer informed the court through an application that Hafiz Mohammad Furqan alias Bhai Mirza and Hafiz Asghar were proclaimed offenders in the case and they were hiding in and operating from South Africa and the UAE respectively. The IO said that efforts were being made for their arrest and asked the court to issue their life warrants.

Judge Abdullah Afzal Khan of the ATC-X issued perpetual warrants for the arrest of both proclaimed offenders.

A case was registered under Sections 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or of grievous hurt), 506-B (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 25 of Telegraph Act read with Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 on the complaint lodged by the hospital’s owner Dr Fashi Ahmed.

DHA shootout case

An antiterrorism court dismissed on Monday two applications of defence lawyer seeking an amended charge and inspection of crime scene in the DHA shootout case.

Salman Abro, son of a senior police officer, along with five police guards of his father has been booked for allegedly killing his 18-year-old classmate Suleman Lashari after breaking into the victim’s house in the Defence Housing Authority in May last year.

The prime suspect, who was declared a juvenile, also sustained wounds and one of the guards was killed in an exchange of fire that ensued during the break-in attempt.

The defence counsel moved applications and contended that indictment of the accused was defective and asked the court to amend the charge and indict them again. The lawyer also sought permission to inspect the house of the deceased.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Saleem Raza Baloch of ATC-III dismissed the applications.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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