PESHAWAR, March 29: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court acquitted a driver of National Logistic Cell (NLC) earlier sentenced to life imprisonment for drug pushing by a trial court.

The appellant, Muhammad Shafiq of Mianwali, was arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Force in 1996, when 1546 kilogramme of charas was recovered from a truck of NLC near Kohat, which according to ANF was driven by him.

The appellant claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case by the ANF as the driver had escaped from the scene and the ANF did not confirm form the concerned officer as to who was driver of the said truck.

The ANF had claimed that although the driver had escaped, but they had recovered driving licence of the appellant from the vehicle.

Counsel for the appellant, Noor Alam Khan, argued before the bench that the trial court had overlooked various important points while convicting the appellant. He stated that the appellant was under the supervision of NLC Sahiwal, whereas the ANF produced documents certified by official of NLC, Nowshera. He argued that except the driving licence the prosecution could not establish any connection between the appellant and the seized drug.

The bench comprising Justice Tariq Pervaiz and Justice Qaim Jan Khan accepted his appeal and set aside life imprisonment awarded to him by the trial court.

Constable acquitted: A single bench of the high court on Friday acquitted a constable of Excise and Taxation Department convicted for receiving bribe from a video centre owner.

The appellant Riasat Hussain was arrested on complaint of Syed Jehanzaib Shah, owner of a video centre, stating that the appellant had asked for Rs1,000 from him for quashment of a case registered against him under the Motion Picture Ordinance.

He was convicted by the special judge anti-corruption, Ghulam Mohiuddin Khan. The complainant claimed that the appellant asked to pay Rs1,000 per month.