KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court has acquitted the chairman of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sanan Khan Qureshi, and 43 others due to lack of evidence in cases pertaining to allegedly delivering anti-state speech and inciting party activists to violence in Bahria Town Karachi (BTK).

Mr Qureshi along with leaders and activists of the Sindh Action Committee (SAC) had been charged with delivering anti-state speech, resorting to violence, ransacking and torching private properties in BTK during their protest against the mega housing scheme on June 6, 2021.

On Thursday, the ATC-XV judge, who conducted the trial at the judicial complex inside the central prison, ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the JSQM leader — who appeared on bail — among 44 other men.

The court also acquitted the workers who were implicated in the possession of illicit weapons cases.

It is pertinent to mention that earlier in 2021, the same court had released 116 men, including nationalist leaders such as Qadir Magsi, Jalal Mehmood Shah, Zain Shah, and Jan Mohammad Junejo after the investigating officer (IO) submitted the final charge sheet.

During the trial, defence counsel Muhammad Khan highlighted contradictions in the statements of the prosecution’s witnesses. He argued that the police had implicated individuals who were merely passengers on the bus and had come for a peaceful protest.

He argued that the prosecution failed to include any resident of BTK or shop owner as a witness in this case.

According to the prosecution, BTK’s security manager lodged an FIR, stating that nationalist leaders, along with 8,000 to 10,000 people gathered outside the BTK’s main gate on June 6, where they delivered speeches against the project and allegedly incited their workers to violence. They removed barricades, manhandled the security staff and put the main gate of the housing scheme and other facilities on fire.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2025