PESHAWAR, Dec 23: An anti-terrorism court acquitted here on Thursday an activist of an outlawed organization, Hizbul Tehrir, charged with distributing objectionable pamphlets.

The court, presided over by Shehjee Rehman Khan, ruled that the prosecution could not prove its case against the accused-defendant, Sabtaeen Khan.

The defendant was arrested on charges of distribution of pamphlets belonging to Hizbul Tehrir. The prosecution claimed that under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, distribution of literature of a banned organization was a crime.

An FIR was registered against him at police station Kabuli on April 23, 2004. The police claimed that the defendant was distributing some pamphlets outside the Mahabat Khan mosque after Friday prayers.

The pamphlets were carrying statements against General Pervez Musharraf and the USA. The police claimed that through those pamphlets the accused was instigating the general public to rise in revolt against the government.

The defence counsel contended that the accused was falsely implicated in the case. He argued that there was no evidence available which could prove that the pamphlets were distributed by him.

FIVE ACQUITTED: An anti-terrorism court acquitted on Thursday five persons charged with kidnapping a police officer for ransom. An inspector of Traffic Police, Muhibullah, was kidnapped in November 2001 from Bhadabher area.

An FIR was registered at Bhadabher police station against unidentified kidnappers. After the inspector was released by his captors, he claimed that he had paid Rs250,000 to the accused persons, Noor Alam, Mohammad Riaz, Noor Dad, Zeb Khan and Mir Alam.

The defence counsel argued that there was no evidence against them and they were arrested three months after the release of the kidnapped person. He contended that the statements of different prosecution witnesses were in conflict with each other. The court observed that doubts existed in the case of prosecution and benefit of doubt should go to the defendants.