An anti-terrorism court (ATC), on Tuesday, reserved its verdict on the bail plea of one of the suspects in Perween Rahman murder case. Azam Swati, who was facing trial for his alleged involvement in the murder of renowned activist Perween Rahman, was presented in an ATC court on Tuesday. The suspect, who had been arrested from Mansehra had previously filed a bail petition. Reserving the verdict on Swati’s bail petition, the judge said it will be announced on August 3. The court had already declared two other suspects in Perween Rahman case absconders. After reserving its verdict, the ATC adjourned the hearing till August 10. Rahman, who was the Director of the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) was gunned down by four men in a targeted attack near the Banaras fly-over in Orangi Town in March 2013. Rahman was a vocal activist working to protect low-income communities from the land and water mafia. A day after her killing, the police claimed to have killed the alleged suspect Qari Bilal, in an encounter. Later, in 2014, the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) ordered a fresh probe after it was alleged that police had mishandled the investigation. In 2016, the Sindh Police claimed to have arrested prime suspect in the case, Azam Swati. Since then, the police have made several claims pertaining to the arrest of more suspects involved in Perween Rahman’s murder. Rahman’s family and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had petitioned the apex court to help ascertain the real motive of the killing and police negligence. Published in Daily Times, August 1st 2018.