LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Monday discharged four suspects in the case of an attack on Shadman police station during the May 9 riots.

The police presented suspects Taj Muhammad, Noorullah, Zeeshan Liaqat and Shakirullah before the court.

The investigating officer asked the court to allow shifting of the suspects to jail for their identification parade.

A defence counsel argued that the police arrested the suspects in a new case after the court released them on bail. He said all the suspects were poor people as one of them worked as a shoe polisher.

He said repeated arrests in new cases were a mockery of the law. He asked the court to discharge the suspects in the case.

Judge Naveed Iqbal allowed the defence request and discharged the suspects.

The judge adjourned the hearing of the case against PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid, former provincial minister Mian Mahmoodur Rashid and Senator Ijaz Chaudhry till Jan 24.

He directed the prosecution to supply copies of the challan to the suspects on the next hearing.

Separately, the judge discharged 27 students of the Punjab University in a case of creating law and order situation on the campus.

Muslim Town police registered a case against the students, who belong to Islami Jamiat Tulaba and the Pashtun Education Movement, for indulging in a scuffle.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024