PML-N leaders remanded to jail

Published June 18, 2002

RAWALPINDI, June 17: The special judge of anti-terrorist court, Safdar Hussain Malik, sent PML-N leaders including Zafar Ali Shah, Farooq Khattak, Shahid Riaz Satti and Maqbool Ahmad on one-day physical remand here on Monday.

They were re-arrested under section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 16-Maintenance of Public Order and section 148, 149, 324, 427 and 397 of the PPC after they were released on bail by a civil court on Saturday.

Earlier, the defence counsel, Ahmmad Bhatti and Sadiq Abassi, contended before the court that substantial evidence should be produced against the accused regarding their involvement in any criminal act during the pro-Kashmir rally. “The accusations of snatching a stick and helmet from a constable are not sufficient,” they said.

Earlier, at 3:15 pm, all the four accused were brought to the court amid the clapping of PML-N members, activists and supporters who were present there.

In the same case, Civil Judge Umar farooq Alvi rejected the bail applications of Haji Pervez Khan, the former deputy mayor of Rawalpindi, and Muhammad Razaq, a PML-N activist. They had been booked by the Bani police and later sent to Adiyala Jail for a 14-day judicial remand.

They also submitted another bail application in the same court which will be heard on June 20.

Meanwhile, the former federal minister, Raja Nadir Pervez, condemned the arrest of PML-N activists and criticised the Kashmir and foreign policies of the government.