Bitta to file PIL against acquittal of Gilani

Karnal, Dec 20 (UNI) The All India Anti-Terrorist Front will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court against acquittal of Prof Arshad Gilani by the Delhi High Court in the Parliament attack case.

Front chairman Maninderjit Singh Bitta told reporters here that the PIL would seek to reopen the case against Prof Gilani. PIL would be filed within a week, he added.

Mr Bitta also criticised the government for allegedly delaying the hanging of Mohammad Afzal on the basis of ''fragile grounds.'' He blamed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who had been issuing statements against Afzal's hanging, for the delay in the execution of the death sentence.

''If any unsavoury incident like hijacking (to get Afzal released) takes place, he (Mr Azad) would solely be responsible for it.'' Mr Bitta said.

He said more freedom fighters and kin of Kargil martyrs would join the Front's campaign by returning their medals to awaken the ''sleeping government''.

All such people would be honoured by the Front in Delhi on December 27, he said.

He charged that the terrorists lodged in Patiala, Nabha and Jammu and Kashmir jails were being given ''five-star treatment''.

He demanded that the control of these jails be given to central security forces.

UNI XC MA MSJ HS1534