KARACHI: An antiterrorism court has rejected bail applications of an alleged hitman of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in a 15-year-old Tahir Plaza arson attack case in which six people lost their lives.

Advocate Altaf Abbasi and his five clients were burnt to death at his Tahir Plaza office near the City Courts when the building, which mostly housed lawyers’ offices, was set ablaze following a spat between two groups of lawyers in on April 9, 2008.

Three accused — M. Imran alias Imran Saeed, Ahmed Saeed alias Saeed Bharam and Faisal Javed —with their 12 absconding accomplices have been charged with violence, burning six people in an arson attack and terrorism within the remit of the Risala police station.

The judge of the ATC, who conducted the trial in the judicial complex inside the central prison, pronounced his order on the post-arrest bail plea of Saeed Bharam.

The judge noted that the prosecution had examined 17 witnesses, including two star witnesses, which supported the prosecution’s case while the special prosecutor undertook that the remaining witnesses would be examined within short period of time.

“Under the attending circumstances and appraisal of record and after hearing, it is my humble view that the applicant/accused is not entitled for concession of bail at this stage; therefore, instant post arrest bail application stands rejected,” ruled the judge.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2023