PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court here on Saturday sent to prison on 14-day judicial remand former provincial minister Kamran Khan Bangash, who was arrested a day earlier on charges of providing shelter to Murad Saeed, a former federal minister and absconding leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Judge Mohammad Adil Khan ordered that the suspect, Kamran Bangash, who was produced amid strict security measures before the court, should be again produced on November 3.

A bail petition was also filed on behalf of Mr Bangash by lawyers belonging to Insaf Lawyers Forum.

A big contingent of police had raided the residence and hujra of Mr Bangash on Friday and had taken him away. Till late night, his whereabouts were not known and it was not immediately disclosed by police in which case he had been arrested.

Kamran Bangash was held for ‘providing shelter’ to PTI leader Murad Saeed

It later surfaced that a fresh case was registered against him under different provisions of Pakistan Panel Code and Anti-Terrorism Act wherein he was charged with harbouring a proclaimed offender (Murad Saeed).

Police also alleged when the raiding team visited the hujra of Mr Bangash then some armed men fired at it resulting in injuries to two cops named Rashid and Kaleem.

Several members of ILF including Ali Zaman, Syed Sikander Hayat Shah, Inam Yousafzai and others appeared for Mr Bangash and contended that he was arrested in a concocted case.

Ali Zaman claimed that Mr Bangash was forced by some elements to attend a convention of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Parliamentarian of former chief minister Pervez Khattak and on his refusal the instant case was registered against him.

He stated that as Mr Bangash stood with former prime minister Imran Khan, therefore, he was victimised on political grounds. He said that as video footages were available showing Mr Bangash voluntarily surrendering to police, therefore, he was produced before the court otherwise he would have been a “missing person.”

Mr Zaman pointed out that on October 14 police registered another fake FIR against a relative of Murad Saeed, residing in Defence Housing Authority Peshawar, on charges of providing shelter to Murad Saeed.

He said that Murad Saeed’s relative Asad Ilyas was arrested along with two other persons. However, he added, they were set free by a court and were also discharged from the case.

WARRANTS: An anti-terrorism court issued non-bailable arrest warrants of 29 leaders and workers of PTI after they failed to appear in three cases related to May 9 and 10 violent protests including burning down building of Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, and attacking regional office of Election Commission of Pakistan.

The court, presided over by Judge Jehanzeb Shinwari, has presently been completing attendance of accused persons in these cases. Few days ago, the prosecution had submitted interim charge sheets in different cases related to May 9 and 10 protests.

In two of these three cases, FIRs were registered at East Cantt police station against the protesters, who had attacked the buildings of Radio Pakistan and ECP and damaged public properties.

The third case related to FIR registered at Faqirabad police station alleged that armed protesters had attacked the station. Scores of leaders and workers of PTI have been granted bails in these cases.

The court issued non-bailable arrest warrants of 13 of the accused persons, who failed to appear in the case related to attack on Radio Pakistan. They include former MPA Wajidullah. The court fixed November 7 for next hearing in the case.

Similarly, non-bailable arrest warrants of six of the accused persons, including former MPA Pir Fida, were issued in the attack on ECP office. Court fixed November 6 for next hearing in the case.

As one of the accused persons was a juvenile in that case, therefore, the court directed the prosecution to submit separate charge sheet against him under Juvenile Justice System Act.

Furthermore, non-bailable arrest warrants of 10 of the accused persons were issued in the Faqirabad police station attack case, in which the court fixed November 4 for next hearing.

Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2023