PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court has confirmed pre-arrest bails of nine suspects charged with terror financing by counter-terrorism department.

ATC Judge Tariq Yousafzai confirmed the bails on condition of furnishing two sureties of Rs300,000 each. CTD had registered an FIR on July 3, 2019, against them under section 11-N of Anti-Terrorism Act.

It had charged 22 persons, including the present nine petitioners, who were mostly abroad, of funding Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

CTD alleged that it had received a letter from an intelligence agency wherein it was informed that several members of TTP, particularly belonging to Wazir tribe of North and South Waziristan, who were working in Bahrain, were involved in fund raising for TTP.

Advocate Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel appeared for the nine suspects including Sahib Rehman and others and contended that his clients were working as labourers in Bahrain and were brought to Pakistan in January 2019. He alleged that they were kept in illegal detention for around five months and were subsequently set free.

He argued that during custody, they were thoroughly interrogated and were released from custody when they were found innocent.

Later on, he stated, CTD registered an FIR against them and several other persons under provision of terror financing.

The counsel argued that there was no need of further investigation and interrogation as they were released by the authorities after clearance. He added that they were doing their job in Bahrain and were from labour class and their jobs had also ended because of their false implication in the case.

He said that there was no proof or evidence against them to connect them with the commission of the offence. He contended that CTD could not prove any linkage between the petitioners and militants.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2019