CHAKWAL: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), probing the Dulmial incident, has submitted a charge-sheet against 61 people to an anti-terrorism court.

According to sources, out of 70 accused in the case nine were declared innocent,while four are Ahmadis.

A furious mob of 2,800 to 3,000 people attacked the worship place of Ahmadi community on December 12, in which two people lost their lives.

Vice-chairman of Dulmial Union Council Faiz Mohammad Faizi of PML N, Malik Hafeezur Rehman, a former tehsil nazim of Choa Saidan Shah, and two clerics Moamar Shah and his brother Moeed Shah are among the accused.

Main suspect Rasheed Ahmed managed to flee the country before his name was put on the Exit Control List (ECL). “He probably left the country from the Sialkot Airport,” an official said.

The Senate Committee on Human Rights has recommended to the government to take up the fleeing suspect’s case with the Canadian government and seek his extradition.

“We have forwarded our recommendations to the interior ministry in this regard,” Senator Nasreen Jalil, the chairperson of Senate Committee on Human Rights told Dawn.

“We will take up the issue in our next meeting scheduled to be held on Monday,” she maintained.

“Besides Rasheed Ahmed there are many other accused who are yet to be arrested,” a police official, on condition of anonymity told this reporter.

The JIT has conducted the investigations within stipulated time of thirty days with legal assistance and guidance of a special prosecution committee which was set up by the prosecutor general of Punjab.

On the other hand the district administration of Chakwal has banned nine firebrands from attending Chehulm ceremony of Naeem Shafique who was killed during the incident. The ceremony was scheduled to be held on Sunday.

According to the plan a religious gathering will be held at a mosque near General Bus Stand while the district administration did not allow the organisers to hold a conference at stadium.

According to a notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner Chakwal Mehmood Javed Bhatti, these nine clerics were banned from entering Chakwal in a bid to prevent them from acting in a manner prejudicial for the public safety.

According to the order, these nine clerics could not enter, reside and remain in the territorial jurisdiction of Chakwal district for one month.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2017