An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday dismissed an application seeking the summoning of a medical board in the case relating to the alleged killing of Rangers personnel during the PTI’s November 26 protest, observing that the accused was mentally fit to stand trial.
ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra announced the order while hearing the case against accused Hashim Abbasi.
During the proceedings, the court rejected the defence application seeking the appearance of the medical board.
The judge observed that, according to the medical board’s report, the accused was mentally sound and competent to face trial. The court also summoned additional prosecution witnesses for the next hearing and adjourned the case until July 27. So far, statements of five prosecution witnesses have been recorded in the case. A case against the accused was registered at Ramna Police Station under relevant provisions of the law.
Separately, an anti-terrorism court handed over the prime suspect in the murder of Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Asim Tariq to police on a seven-day physical remand after completion of his identification parade.
ATC Judge Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain passed the order after the suspect was produced before the court by the federal police. During the hearing, Prosecutor Raja Naveed Hussain Kiani sought a 20-day physical remand, informing the court that the suspect had been identified by eye witnesses Kamran and Waseem during an identification parade conducted at Adiala Jail.
Addressing the suspect in the courtroom, Judge Zulqarnain remarked that there was no benefit in expressing remorse at this stage, stating that the alleged offence had caused immense loss to the country and devastated an innocent family.
He further observed that the suspect could not comprehend the magnitude of the loss caused by the killing of a valuable national asset.
After hearing the prosecution’s arguments, the court granted a seven-day physical remand of the suspect to the police for further investigation.