Kasur scandal: Court removes ATA sections from case

Court transfers the case to sessions court

An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday removed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) sections from a case registered in connection with the Kasur Scandal.

The court also transferred the case to sessions court for further hearing.

ATC Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Ilyas passed these orders while accepting an application filed by the accused involved in the case.

Earlier, the defence counsel arguing before the court submitted that Ganda Singh Wala police had registered FIR No 201/15 against the accused under ATA sections on the pressure of the media. He contended that the offence did not fall under the ATA act. He pleaded to the court to remove ATA sections from the FIR and transfer the case to an ordinary court for hearing.

However, the prosecution opposed the request and pleaded to the court to dismiss the application.

The court, after hearing the arguments, removed ATA sections from case and transferred the hearing of the case to sessions court.

Ganda Singh Wala/Kasur police had registered a total of 31 cases in connection with the Kasur child abuse scandal against 20 accused. As many as 25 cases were registered under sections 506, 293, 387, 386 and 377 of the criminal procedure code and sections of Anti-Terrorism Act whereas six other cases were registered under sections of criminal procedure code alone.