Islamabad ATC refuses to drop terror charges in PAF officer murder case

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has dismissed a defense request to remove terrorism charges from the murder case of former Group Captain Asim Tariq, maintaining that the trial will continue before the anti-terrorism court. Judge Abual Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain made the decision following arguments from both the defense and prosecution.

The defense counsel contended that the Anti-Terrorism Act provisions were inapplicable to the case and sought the court's decision before recording prosecution witness statements. However, the prosecutor argued that the incident's nature and circumstances warranted the inclusion of terrorism charges, asserting that the court could proceed with recording witness statements based on precedents from higher courts.

The prosecutor further noted that if the court found at any point that the terrorism provisions were not applicable, it could transfer the case to the appropriate forum. He emphasized that it was premature to question the charges' applicability as no prosecution witness had yet been examined. After hearing the arguments, the judge reserved the decision on the defense application and later dismissed the plea, directing the trial to proceed before the ATC.