LAHORE - The Supreme Court Friday accepted the bail petition of a man of banned outfit and ordered police to release him after the prosecution failed to establish his involvement in distributing hatred material in Ghalib Market, Gulberg area of Lahore.
The SC held that poor investigation devastates societies and law enforcement agencies thoroughly investigate a matter if they want to protect the societies from destruction.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhary and Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard the case at SC Lahore registry.
Amjad Ashraf of Hizbut Tehreer had filed the bail petition through his counsel and stated that last year in 2014, Gulberg police lodged FIR against him and 12 others due to spreading hatred material among the members of the society under sections of Pakistan Protection Act, Anti-Terrorism Act and under sections of Pakistan Penal Code.
The petitioner told the bench that he was sitting nearby place and police took him into custody. He told he had nothing to do with the charges leveled against him. The petitioner requested the bench to release him. A prosecutor, however, opposed the bail and produced police record of the accused.
The prosecutor stated that police also found maps and other materials for the destruction of the society. He further submitted that challan had been completed and as the courts under Pakistan Protection Act would start working the challan would be submitted.
At this, Justice Bandial asked the prosecutor to argue on the involvement of the petitioner which the prosecutor could not present. The investigation officer was also present in the court who failed to convince the court about the involvement of the accused.
On it, the bench observed serious concerns over the failure of police and held that the police arrested 12 persons from a place and could not establish the involvement of the accused petitioner. The bench ordered to release the accused against two surety bonds of Rs 100,000.
Hearing of Aitchison College case adjourned: Following the interim reconciliation among Aitchison College’s reinstated Principal Raja Ghazanfar and members of the Board of Governors, the Lahore High Court adjourned further hearing until Sept 30.
Raja Ghazanfar himself offered reconciliation to the petitioner’s party during in-camera proceedings held at the chamber of Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh of the Lahore High Court.
According to the settlement, the principal will use the perks and privileges available to him but will not interfere into the matters of the college as principal. At this, the court adjourned the hearing until Sept 30 as the Punjab Governor is in abroad who would come and decide the matter.
Aitchison Colleges’ Board of Governors had filed a petition and challenged the stay order earlier granted to the principal.