RAWALPINDI: As military trial of terrorism cases begin this week, the Rawalpindi region police are hurrying up with finalising challans of the cases fit to be tried by military courts.

Regional Police Officer Akhtar Umar Hayat Laleka has said five cases of terrorism will be referred to the military courts from the Rawalpindi division but declined to give details.

“It is premature to give details of those cases,” he told Dawn on Sunday. However, he added that “all terror cases in which army personnel or installations were targeted, and the terror groups have been traced, fall in the category of the cases to be tried by military courts”.

Five cases will be referred to military courts soon

Cases of terrorist attacks, like the bombing of Chittian Hattian Imambargah in the garrison city, can be sent for military trial only after the culprits were arrested and investigated, according to the officer.

District police officers (DPOs) across the Punjab province have orders from the provincial police chief, IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, to ensure registration of cases of terrorism under the new laws, which arose from the 21st Constitutional Amendment, and submit relevant challans “within two days” for trial in the military courts.

A senior Rawalpindi police official quoted the IGP order, warning “If (terror) cases were registered under the old laws, and challans were not submitted within two days, the DPO (district police officer) concerned shall be responsible.”

IG Sukhera has also directed the RPOs – the divisional police chiefs - to personally monitor that his orders are complied with.

Changes made in the laws, under the 21st Amendment, categorise cases relating to hate speeches, wall-chalking, publication, distribution or selling of hate material, illegal use of loudspeaker and display of arms and not registering tenants with the police also as terrorism.

RPO Laleka said the police have been acting promptly against those found violating the new laws.

“A large number of such cases have been registered and police are sending challans in time,” he told Dawn.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2015

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