An Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Wednesday took notice of delay in submission of the charge sheet in a case linked to the November 26 protest and issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer.
The court made it clear that the case cannot proceed without completion of the challan.
The hearing was held at the Anti-Terrorism Court Islamabad, where Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra presided over the matter involving Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s aide Sohail Afridi, Junaid Akbar, and others.
During the proceedings, the court expressed displeasure over the failure to submit the charge sheet despite the passage of time. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra issued a show-cause notice to the investigating officer and directed him to explain why the challan had not been completed so far.
The judge stated that the court required the charge sheet to move forward with the case. He further remarked that the issue between the police and the accused was not the court’s concern, stressing that submission of the challan was mandatory.
The judge added that the police were free to act according to law, but the court needed the case record without further delay.
A case against Sohail Afridi and others was registered at Margalla Police Station in connection with the November 26 protest. Further proceedings will depend on the response of the investigating officer and submission of the challan.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Terrorism Court, in Rawalpindi has restored one bank account of Aleema Khanum after she appeared before the court in connection with the case registered at Thana Sadiqabad pertaining to the November 26 protest.
During the hearing, the court also sought a reply from NADRA authorities regarding the restoration of her blocked identity card and cancelled the arrest warrants issued against her. Aleema Khanum appeared in court accompanied by her counsel Muhammad Faisal Malik, while Special Prosecutor Zahir Shah was also present.
The defence counsel completed cross-examination of three more prosecution witnesses bringing the total number of witnesses whose cross-examination has been completed to 13.On the request of the defence, the court ordered the defreezing of one bank account belonging to Aleema Khanum.
The court further directed NADRA officials to submit a response regarding the defreezing of her identity card. Aleema Khanum assured the court of her appearance at the next hearing. The court adjourned the case to February 9.
Moreover, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed a banking court that the case challan in foreign funding case against PTI founder has been completed and will be submitted to the court after completion of process.
The investigating officer said that the challan will be submitted to the court in a few days after the process is completed. Banking Court Judge Abdul Ghafoor Kakar heard the foreign funding case. Special Prosecutor Wasiq Malik appeared in the court.