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Sufi, TNSM workers indicted in terrorism case
[DAWN] A local anti-terrorism court on Saturday indicted the banned Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariah Mohammadi's chief, Maulana Sufi Mohammad, along with his two sons and several associates for inciting hatred against the government and staging an illegal sit-in in Timergara area of Lower Dir six years ago.

The accused pleaded not guilty
"Wudn't me."
 in the case and decided to stand trial.

Judge Abdur Rauf Khan, who has been conducting the trial inside the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
 Central Prison for security reasons, fixed Feb 21 for the next hearing and summoned prosecution witnesses on that date.

Adil Majeed, lawyer for the accused, insisted his clients were innocent and would face trial.

In Oct 2008, Maulana Sufi Mohammad and TNSM
...Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Law) is a Pak militant group whose objective is to enforce their definition of Sharia law in Pakistain whether anybody wants it or not. It was founded by Sufi Muhammad in 1992, and was banned by President Musharraf in January, 2002 after Sufi dispatched several thousand yokels to Afghanistan to fight the infidel and ended up with most of them killed or captured and held for ransom. In 2007 TNSM took over Swat, which shows how well the banning worked. TNSM is the Pony League of Islamic militancy..
 activists staged a sit-in at the Rest House Ground in Timergara for several days.

During that sit-in, they delivered speeches against the government.

After the final stage of military operation against gunnies was launched in May 2009, an FIR was also registered against Maulana Sufi and several TNSM members for the sit-in.

The police charged the accused under Section 153-A of Pakistain Penal Code, which deals with promotion of hatred among people, and Section 11-F (3) of Anti-Terrorism Act, which deals with activities of an outlawed outfit.

TNSM was banned in 2002 and therefore, holding such activities was a crime under the law.

During the 2009 sit-in, the prime accused Maulana Sufi Mohammad declared that the protest would continue until enforcement of Shariah in Malakand region.

He also allegedly termed the country's Constitution and laws un-Islamic.

Until now, Maulana Sufi Mohammad and several of his associates have been acquitted by the anti-terrorism court in 10 cases of terrorism.

Now, trial into only three cases, including the one in question, is underway.

Meanwhile,
...back at the bunker, his Excellency called a hurried meeting of his closest advisors. It was to be his last. They discussed the officers's efficiency rating system...
 the court also adjourned the hearing into another case charging Maulana Sufi with sedition and waging war against the country.

As some witnesses did not turn up, the court fixed Feb 21 for the next hearing.

In that case, Maulana Sufi was charged with delivering a speech in Feb 2009 at Grassy Ground in Swat.

The prosecution alleged that in that speech, he had tried to instigate the people for waging a war against the country and also brought in contempt the federal and provincial governments as well as the Constitution.
Posted by: Fred 2015-02-09
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=410356