KARACHI: An antiterrorism court has repeated the non-bailable warrants for arrest of around 17 suspects allegedly absconding in a case pertaining to attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi.

The Counter-Terrorism Department booked and detained Mohammad Aslam; Ahmed Hasnain; Ali Ahmed, alias Hashim; Nadir Khan, alias Arif Buledi and Abdul Latif — all said to be associated with the banned separatist Baloch Liberation Army — for allegedly helping three heavily armed militants, who were killed while attempting to enter the Chinese consulate on Nov 23, 2018 in Clifton.

It also showed Harbiyaar Marri; Aslam Baloch, alias Achhu; Bashir Zaib; Noor Bux Mengal; Kareem Marri; ‘captain’ Rehman Gul; ‘commanders’ Nisar; Sheikhu; Gaindi; Sharif; Hamal; Munshi and Agha Sher Dil as absconders in the present case.

The matter was fixed before the ATC VII judge, who is conducting the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, for submission of report regarding execution of the non-bailable warrants issued by the court for arrest of the absconding suspects.

However, the investigating officer was absent and no compliance report was filed.

The judge repeated non-bailable warrants for arrest of the absconders and directed the CTD IO, Zafar Iqbal Siyal, to appear on May 6 and submit a compliance report.

The judge also deferred indictment of the detained suspects in identical cases pertaining to the main attack, illicit arms and explosives till the next date.

In a previous hearing, the investigating officer had filed a compliance report mentioning that non-bailable warrants could not be executed on 17 suspects allegedly absconding in the present case since their whereabouts could not be ascertained as Nadra and the Election Commission of Pakistan did not have their identification data.

The progress report mentioned that the attackers were constantly in contact with their alleged absconding accomplices, including Harbiyaar Marri and other aforementioned suspects, who allegedly masterminded and facilitated the terrorist attack.

It said four Kalashnikovs, two improvised explosive devices, detonators, hand grenades, explosive material and bullets were also seized from the possession of the three militants.

According to the prosecution, seven people, including three heavily armed militants, two policemen and two visitors were shot dead in a gun-and-grenade attack by them on the Chinese consulate located in the high-security zone in Clifton’s Block-4.

In a progress report, filed with the court in January 2019, the IO had stated that the terrorists stormed the consulate building and started firing and throwing hand grenades and also killed assistant sub-inspector Ashraf Dawood and police constable Mohammad Amir, who were posted at the first security checkpoint, while Mohammad Jumman, who was posted at the entrance to the visa section, was wounded by their firing.

He stated that after hearing shots, the visitors as well as the staff went into the consulate and locked the doors from inside. Therefore, the attackers tried to plant an IED to blow up the iron gate but failed to do so due to firing by security forces personnel from the outside. A visa seeker, Tahir Shah, and his father, Niaz Ahmed, were hit by the attackers’ firing and died on the spot, it added.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2020