LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday discharged singer Umar Aftab Malik from the Jinnah House attack case of May 9 for lack of evidence.

Sarwar Road police presented the singer before the court on expiry of his 10-day physical remand.

The investigating officer told the court that investigation in the case had been completed and the singer’s further custody was not required. He asked the court to send the suspect to jail on judicial remand.

Advocate Azhar Siddique appeared on behalf of the singer and argued that there was no need to send the suspect to jail. He asked the court to discharge Malik forthwith.

The lawyer alleged that the police had arrested his client after one year on the basis of a supplementary statement of an arrested suspect only to punish him for making songs in support of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Judge Arshad Javed allowed the defence request and discharged the singer from the case.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2024