On September 01, 2015 pre-arrest bail of Unitan Fazal and Mohsan Shafqat was rejected by the court of Bushra Zaman Learned Judge Anti-Terrorism Court Gujranwala and police sent Unitan Fazal and Moshin Shafqat in judicial lockup.

It is contended by the CLAAS’ lawyer that bare reading of the FIR, no offence is made out as per the section 8 of Anti- Terrorism Act 1997 these are three ingredients which must be fulfilled for the commission of offence, the Act of a person which is insulting , threatening and abusive and create sectarian hated among the people.

These above said ingredients are absolutely missing in the FIR. Surprisingly it seemed that court was biased and dismissed the bail without touching the merit of the case. It is also argued by the lawyer that there is no incriminating evidence which connect the accused with the alleged offence because no private person has been associated from the locality to which the feeling was hurt. The police during investigation with mala fide intension inserted 295-A PPC in the FIR.

Post-arrest bail of four accused persons, Pastor Aftab Gill, Latif, Shafqat Gill and one Muslim Zulfqar (publisher) were also fixed for argument. On same day post-arrest bail of Zulfqar was granted as he has been declared innocent by the police whereas post-arrested bail of Pastor Aftab Gill, Latif and Shafqat Gill were rejected by the court of Bushra Zaman Learned Judge Anti-Terrorism Court Gujranwala. These bail petitions were filed by some other lawyers.

On August 16, 2015 a case FIR No. 972/15 was registered against 14 accused persons under section 11-W, 8/9 of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 at police station Civil Lines, District Gujrat, it was alleged against the accused that they have used the word of “Apostle” for pastor Fazal Masih deceased in result of that three Christians named Pastor Aftab Gill, Latif, Shafqat Gill and Zulfar one Muslim who published the poster, were arrested and confined in police station.

On August 18, 2015 CLAAS Legal Advisor Mr. Tahir Bashir moved pre-arrest bail of Unitan Fazal (one of them who are nominated in FIR) in the Court of Bushra Zaman Learned Judge Anti-Terrorism Court Gujranwala which was fixed for August 25, 2015.
On August 25, 2015 pre-arrest bail of Mohsan Shafqat another accused of Gujrat’s case was filed by CLAAS and both bail petition were fixed for September 01, 2015 for arguments and dismissed.

Reported by:
CLAAS Team