The Islamabad Anti-terrorism Court (ATC) on Thursday rejected bail plea of Kanwal Sikandar, spouse of the gunman who kept the capital paralysed on August 15.
ATC Judge Attiqur Rehman heard the bail plea. Her counsel, Kulsoom Khaliq, pleaded that Kanwal has nothing to do with August 15 episode. Therefore, she should be granted bail.
The lawyer contended that it was Kanwal’s husband, who resorted to firing and created fiasco at Jinnah Avenue, but Kanwal did nothing wrong as she was under threat and pressure exerted by her husband to not leave the crime scene.
She also pleaded that Kanwal, in the fear of life of her own and her children, helped her husband. Advancing her argument, she argued under the circumstances she could not be declared accomplice.
The lawyer said that even Kanwal did not hold guns in her hands but police charged her under the terrorism act, which is a sheer injustice.
Kanwal, who is currently in jail, earlier recorded her statement claiming that she was unaware that her husband carried arms and ammunition in the car.
She had said that she along with her children had come to Islamabad on visit for recreation.
During the proceedings, police presented the video of the incident as evidence, showing the role played by Kanwal in the whole episode.
Public prosecutor, Syed Tayab, requested the court to turn down Kanwal’s bail application as she was accomplice in the crime.
After being convinced from public prosecutor’s argument the court rejected bail plea of Kanwal.
Sikandar accompanied by his wife and two children had brought Islamabad to a standstill on August 15 by brandishing guns and firing in the air at Jinnah Avenue.
The standoff that lasted for five hours eventually had ended after Sikandar was shot in legs and abdomen and arrested when PPP leader Zamrud Khan lunged at him.
