Pak Intelligence official cleared of terror charges

Peshawar, Dec 20 (UNI) Pakistan Police have dropped charges of terrorism against a low-ranking employee of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), accused of planting explosives near the Chief Minister Secretariat in country's Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP).

Mohammed Tufail was earlier charged under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and section 5 of the Explosive Substance Act.

However, he will now only be tried under section 5, Dawn newspaper reported.

The terrorism charges were omitted from the First Investigation Report (FIR), lodged with the East Cantonment police station on December 5, on the directives of the prosecution directorate in the NWFP ruled by the opposition Islamic alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).

Meanwhile, a local court has granted bail to Tufail in a case pertaining to resisting arrest.

However, Tufail will have to stay in prison as he is yet to get a bail in the case concerning explosives, found near the CM offices two weeks ago.

Counsel for Tufail Fakhre Alam Jhagra contended that there was no evidence to prove that the accused had resisted his arrest.

The case had been registered by the police allegedly after a joint director of the IB had visited the East Cantonment police station, taking with him Tufail and the explosive stick planted near the CM Secretariat.

UNI XC SI RS1412