82 people including 2 PTI MPAs, 34 KP policemen and 42 others, who were accused of attacking prisoner vans in Sangjani Town, Islamabad the other day, were produced before Anti-Terrorism Court Rawalpindi and police demanded physical remand of the all accused. Anti-Terrorism Court Rawalpindi Judges Tahir Abbas Sipra heard the case. After hearing the arguments of both sides, ATC judges approved the two-day physical remand of the accused.
Earlier, the prosecution contended that the vans were transferring 82 prisoners to Attock Jail after their appearance before the district magistrate. The 82 prisoners included two PTI lawmakers and other party workers. The prosecution further told the court that about 20 suspects riding in four vehicles attacked the prisoner vans near Sangjani Toll Plaza, adding that the suspected assailants were armed with weapons, sticks and stones. Four police officers were injured in the attack however, police managed to arrest four attackers while others escaped from the scene.
PTI lawyers Mirza Asim Baig, Ghazal Khan, Amna Ali, Ansar Kiyani and others told ATC judge that according to the FIR, the attack on the police van was planned. Lawyer questioned who told the police to leave the prisoner's van on the GT road?
The defendant lawyer further said that all accused were in police custody since October 5. One trial court has approved the bail of the accused while the another court ordered the discharge of the accused.
PTI lawyers questioned how the police can arrest 82 accused immediately? PTI Lawyers contended that the incident was created because the police did not want to release the accused.
PTI legal team demanded that all accused should be discharged from the case. PTI lawyers said police were asked to release the accused, but the police said that they will take the accused to Attock.
PTI counsel further contended that the four people who were arrested were the relatives of the accused and they were also going to Attock and none of the accused escaped from the site.
After the arguments of defendant, prosecution team told ATC judges that in order to discover the facts, recovery of arson, police need physical remand of the accused. The prosecution said accused are admitting that there were 82 people in the car, therefore their analysis was mandatory.
After hearing the arguments ATC Judges reserved the verdict and later approved two day physical remand of the accused.
Reporter: Hashir Ahsan