RAWALPINDI, Jan 28: Chief Commissioner Islamabad Hamid Ali Khan on Monday permitted the special judge of an anti-terrorism court (ATC) to hold the trial of Lal Masjid’s former chief cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz in the Adiala Jail Adiala because of security concerns.

ATC No. 1 Judge Chaudhry Habibur Rehman had earlier written to the chief commissioner for the permission of jail trial of the cleric due to the sensitive nature of the case.

On Monday, the court took up for hearing 32 cases related to Lal Masjid administration and July 3 military operation against the alleged militants holed up in the mosque and adjacent Jamia Hafsa.

The chief commissioner, under section 9(2) of CPrC and article 2 of Islamabad Capital Territory Administration Order 1980, gave permission of jail trial of Maulana Aziz in 18 cases.

The ATC judge deferred the hearing in all cases till February 23. Wife of Maulana Aziz Majida Aziz, Umme Hassaan; his daughter Tayyaba Dua and other co-accused were present in the court.

In some cases registered with the Margalla, Kohsar and Aabpara police stations, copies of police challan were distributed among the accused. The court will formally frame charges against them during the next hearing.

Maulana Aziz has been awarded bail in all cases except for four - murder, abduction, police encounter and sedition - registered with the Aabpara police.

In another case, the court sent two persons arrested for killing three men, including a policeman, in Chakwal district courts to the Adiala Jail for 14 days on judicial remand.

Mohammad Hayat alias Hato, a resident of Sargodha, and Ijaz alias Jazo, a resident of Vehari, were booked by the Saddar police under the charges of terrorism, murder, attempted murder, police encounter and obstructing police functioning on January 14.

Three men armed with sophisticated weapons attacked two accused in a murder case when they were brought to the Chakwal district courts and killed them and a police constable on the spot. One more law enforcer was also injured.

Meanwhile, ATC No. 2 Judge Sakhi Mohammad Kahot sent a man to Adiala jail for 14 days. The accused was arrested in connection with arson and riots in the city in the wake of assassination of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto on December 27 last year.

The accused, Mohammad Shoaib, was arrested by the Waris Khan police. His lawyer and PPP candidate Aamir Fida Paracha moved a bail application before the court, saying Mr Shoaib had falsely been involved in the case.

In another case, the judge issued warrants for the arrest of three men wanted by the Jhelum police in different murder and kidnap for ransom cases.

SHO City police sought the arrest warrants of Ishtiaq Shah, Sohail and Sanaullah, who had been nominated in kidnapping for ransom cases.

The judge also extended physical remand of four other detainees in the same case for five days, instead of nine days as demanded by the police. These men were arrested after a police encounter in Lila.—A Reporter