Accused document statements in the violence on May 9th

PESHAWAR: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday scheduled the next argument hearing after recording the statements of the accused in a case related to the May 9 violent events.

The case was heard by ATC Judge Muhammad Iqbal Khan with the accused appearing in court and giving their statements.

According to the indictment, on May 9, the accused took part in protests against the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

During the protests, Balahisar Fort VIP Gate, Government Frontier College for Women, private banks and other private and government buildings were damaged. A civilian was also killed in the incident.

The accused, including provincial minister Meena Khan Afridi, MPs Muhammad Asif, Arbab Sher Ali and Fazal Elahi, and former provincial minister Kamran Bangash, Taimur Saleem Jhagra and other PTI workers, were accused in a case filed with Khan Raziq Shaheed police been station.

The prosecution said the trial was in its final stages and the defendants' statements had been recorded.

The court then set the date for the next hearing, at which the defense lawyers and the prosecutor would present their closing arguments.

Meanwhile, the ATC granted three-day remand to an accused arrested for attacking security checkpoints in Mohmand and Shabqadar districts.

The accused, Fazal Samad, was produced before the ATC where the investigating officer informed the court that the accused was involved in attacks on security force checkpoints in Mohmand district.

He also said that the accused also staged an attack on a police station in Shabqadar. He requested the court to remand the accused for further investigation.

The court accepted the request and remanded the defendant to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) for three days in custody.