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TNSM chief's trial delayed for non-availability of evidence
 [Pak Daily Times] The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has delayed the trial of banned Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief Sufi Mohammad after the prosecution department failed to produce solid evidence and witnesses against him, Daily Times has learnt. Looks like the fix is in again... "non-availability of evidence". Is that like "all the witnesses are dead"? Official sources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs Department revealed that first the TNSM chief's trial was delayed due to security reasons and Taliban's threat to anti-terrorism judge and it was decided to run his trial in Central Prison Peshawar. But, the sources added, the provincial government was now delaying his trial due to non-availability of witnesses and solid evidence against him. "The government is taking no interest in the trial of TNSM chief and there is a possibility that he once again be released through an agreement," an official told Daily Times on condition of anonymity. Two months ago, the provincial government had delayed the trial of Sufi Mohammad due to security reasons and Taliban's threats to Swat anti-terrorism judge Asim Imam. The provincial home department reviewed its decision to produce Sufi Mohammad and other key terrorists in Swat anti-terrorism court and approved trial of TNSM chief and other key terrorists by a judge of anti-terrorism court in the prison. The anti-terrorism court judge was scheduled to start Sufi's trial in various cases on July 20 in the prison, but the trial could not resume on the scheduled date. Sufi Muhammad is facing charges of sedition, conspiring against the state and encouraging terrorism. There are also a host of other charges against him including Section 302 and 324 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Last year, the ANP-led provincial government had pinned all hopes for peace on Sufi Muhammad and withdrew all cases lodged against him, but he rejected the superior courts of the country declaring them as un-Islamic and denounced democracy and the Constitution. His April 19, 2009 address to a massive gathering at Grassy Ground in Mingora ended all hopes for peaceful resolution of the problems in Swat and rest of Malakand and emboldened the Swat militants. His address brought serious consequences for him. The military launched an operation in his native Maidan area in Lower Dir on April 26, 2009. On June 4, his Amandarra headquarters in Batkhela was raided and his deputy Maulana Muhammad Alam and spokesman Amir Izzat were nabbed. Sufi Muhammad then went into hiding, but in late July 2009, he showed up in Sethi Town of Peshawar and was arrested in the same month. Posted by: Fred 2010-09-14 |
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