Pakistan's ‘Insufficient evidence’: Peshawar High Court grants bail to 16 suspects in Kohat arson case

The Express Tribune

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday granted bail to 16 suspects arrested for setting shops and other property on fire in Kohat district. The accused were allegedly protesting against the riots in Rawalpindi, where 10 people were killed during sectarian clashes on November 16. A single-member bench was informed by petitioners’ counsels Muhammad Saeed and Ibrar Alam that a case against the accused was registered in an anti-terrorism court. The FIR, however, mentions that the number of people who damaged the properties ranged from 150 to 200. Seven of the accused were directly named in the case, while others were arrested later, the defence said.

The counsels further said there is no evidence of the charges made against their clients. They argued that apart from naming them in the FIR, the police has no other proof against the 16 men. Justice Musarrat Hilali said the protesters set public property on fire, which is unacceptable. The state’s counsel asked the court to dismiss the bail application of all those who were arrested in the case. The court, however, accepted the applications of the accused and ordered their release.