ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday granted bail to five accused of May 9 riots and ordered the relevant officials to release them.
The top court also raised serious question about the police investigation report.
The suspects who were granted bail were booked in a case registered with New Town police station.
The apex court expressed dismay over the police and the prosecution during hearing of the case.
“There are also accusation of firing. Whether any weapon was recovered or any police official got injured,” asked Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi. The judge remarked that the investigation officer was making tales from his side.
Justice Mandokhel, the other member of the bench, also observed that whether taking out a rally or becoming member of any political party is a crime.
The judge remarked that this damage now is the result of that ban on the students unions and the political parties.
“Whether it should be accepted merely on the statement of a head constable that the former prime minister was a traitor?,” the judge further asked.
Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi asked the IO about the evidence.
“Whether there was any identification in the CCTV footages?,” asked the judge. On it, the Investigation Officer replied that the CCTV cameras installed at Hamza camp were damaged by the protestors.
At this, Justice Mandokhel remarked that it means that there is no evidence against the accused persons.
“There are merely the statements of the police officials,” he remarked.
“Why the sections of Anti-Terrorism Act are there in the FIR?,” Justice Mandokhel further asked. On it, a law officer who was representing the Punjab government said that the protestors attacked the camp of a sensitive department.
At this, Justice Mandokhel remarked that “then you don’t know what does mean by terrorism. The attacks on the Army Public School, Peshawar and Quetta courts were terrorism,”.
He questioned that how taking out rallies turned out to be terrorism.
Later, the court allowed bail to the five accused against surety bond of Rs50,000 each.
