Pak ATC releases seven terror suspects owing to lack of evidence

Rawalpindi, Oct 31 (ANI): An Anti-Terrorism Court in Pakistan ordered the release of seven terror suspects on Saturday due to a lack of evidence against them.

Judge of Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi, Malik Akram Awan, ordered to free the suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in suicide attacks on FC check-post and a special police branch, the Daily Times reported.

The suicide attack was carried out on FC checkpost located at Sector F-7/3, Margalla Road near Jinnah Super market on April 4, 2009.

Six personnel of the FC were killed and many others were injured in the attack. The second attack was carried out on a branch of special police in Aabpara police station area in which one policeman was killed.

Police had presented three accused, including Khurram Shehzad, Muhammad Awais and Khairullah Mehsood, in the court in special branch attack case.

All the accused were found not guilty and were released, owing to a lack of evidence and not presenting witnesses in the court.

Pakistan's outdated criminal justice system, coupled with its financial constraints in training police or buying the forensic equipment needed to adequately investigate and prosecute terrorism cases, is resulting in a rising tide of acquittals of terrorists.

In many cases, key witnesses in terrorism cases do not even show up in court, fearing retribution from militant groups, as Pakistan lacks any kind of protection program to safeguard witnesses in terrorism cases. (ANI)