PESHAWAR, Aug 19: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court admitted on Tuesday to full hearing a writ petition of a high court advocate, Sardar Moazzam, against his trial by an anti-terrorism court in the murder case of an Ayub Medical College’s doctor.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Qaim Jan Khan, fixed Aug 27 for next hearing and extended the interim relief earlier granted to the petitioner by staying the proceedings before an anti-terrorism court in Abbotabad.

The petitioner, Sardar Moazzam, is accused of killing Dr Farooq of the college and injuring another doctor, Farman Khan, on June 16 at Abbotabad.

The murder of Dr Farooq had resulted in a widespread violent protest by the doctors and students in Abbotabad following which Sardar Moazzam was arrested.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) started trial of the accused last month following which he filed a writ petition before the high court, praying that his case be shifted to an ordinary court.

The petitioner’s counsel contending on Tuesday that it was not a case of terrorism, maintained that it was a simple murder case and had nothing to do with terrorism.

He further contended that under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, only those cases could be referred to the Anti-Terrorism Court which created terror in the society.