KARACHI, March 4: Khan Pervez Chang, judge, Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC IV), has simply submitted an explanation before Anti-Terrorism Appellate Court of Sindh High Court (SHC) in a matter of delay in release of an accused.

ATC judge has not tendered “unconditional apology” as was erroneously reported earlier.

According to details, the ATC judge appeared before a bench of the high court on a contempt of court notice on an application moved by Abdul Waheed Katpar, advocate, who submitted that it (ATA bench) had set aside the conviction of appellant Imran Yousuf Zai, booked in a murder case of a police constable.

The counsel maintained that the acquittal order was passed by the ATA bench on 6-2-2002 but till Feb 28, acquitted accused was not released for unknown reasons.

The assistant advocate-general of Sindh, Habib Ahmed, on a query stated that the acquitted accused should have been released.

The bench then issued contempt of court notice to the ATC-IV judge.

The learned judge submitted his explanation through the registrar of the SHC after which the bench put off the matter till March 4 (today) while exempting Khan Pervez Chang from personal appearance on next dates of hearing.

Similarly, the superintendent of Central Prison Karachi also appeared before the ATA bench and submitted his explanation.

He also informed the court about releasing the acquitted accused.

The ATC judge, Khan Pervez Chang, has not tendered any apology as was erroneously reported.—APP