Chotu gang leader, associates acquitted in two cases

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Multan on Thursday acquitted the notorious Chotu Gang members in two cases, including the one involving the murder of two policemen, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Masood Arshad – the ATC No 2 judge – announced the verdict in the Central Jail Multan where the gang leader Ghulam Rasool alias Chotu and some of his accomplices are currently imprisoned after being convicted in different other cases.

One of the two cases was registered with DG Khan Saddar Police Station as they faced murder, attempt to murder and some other related charges under different sections of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

The gang leader as well as Khalid alias Khalidi and Ishaq alias Saqi were accused of martyring two police constables – Naeem Haider and Kashif Shehzad – in August 2018. 

Three other constables – Abdul Ghaffar, Rashid Minhas and Abdul Karim – were also injured in the encounter.

Meanwhile, the second case pertained to kidnapping a citizen Siddique for Rs5 million ransom. It was registered by Bet Mir Hazar Khan Police Station in Muzaffargarh.

During the last hearing, both sides had presented their arguments on the statements recorded by the accused under Section 342. However, the court acquitted them on Thursday after giving the gangsters the benefit of doubt.

Last year, the Lahore High Court (LHC) had ordered to transfer these cases to Multan from DG Khan. 

In this connection, the ATC held 39 hearings during which Siraj Qaisrani Advocate represented the accused.

However, the accused are already in the Central Jail Multan after being convicted by the ATC No 1 in different cases related to murder and possession of firearms/ ammunition.

As a whole, they have been sentenced to death 18 times (on 18 counts) while also receiving life imprisonment. However, the accused have challenged their conviction in the LHC.

Meanwhile, several other cases are also under trial against Chotu and his associates.