ATC approves Rao Anwar's bail plea in illegal weapons case
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KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) approved on Friday former SSP Malir Rao Anwar's bail plea in a case involving possession of explosives and illegal weapons.
The ATC had reserved its verdict on Anwar's bail plea on July 17 and announced it today.
The court ordered Anwar to submit surety bonds worth Rs1 million.
Last week, the ATC granted bail to Anwar in the Naqeebullah murder case while approving the former SSP Malir's bail plea the court had directed him to submit Rs1 million in bail bonds.
Anwar, along with 11 of his subordinates, is facing trial before the ATC for allegedly killing Mehsud, a shopkeeper and aspiring model from South Waziristan, and three others in a staged encounter on January 13 in Malir.
Mehsud's father has expressed a lack of confidence in the ATC judge hearing the murder case while his counsels have claimed repeatedly that the controversial police officer was awarded special treatment as he did not spend a single day behind bars following his arrest.
Mehsud's family also lamented that Anwar never appeared in court in handcuffs.
Anwar was housed in his Malir residence since his arrest, which was declared a sub-jail by the authorities.
According to the deceased's father, neither did the judge take notice of Anwar's protocol despite a petition filed earlier, nor she announced any decision on a plea filed pertaining to threats to witnesses.
Naqeebullah Mehsud murder case
Anwar was named an accused in the extrajudicial murder case of 27-year-old Mehsud and three others who were killed in a fake police encounter in Karachi on January 13.
Anwar, after absconding in the case since late January, was arrested on the Supreme Court's orders March 21 after he finally appeared in court and was later transported to Karachi.
Following the incident in January, protests had erupted across the country seeking action against Anwar, who is infamous for killing 'terrorists' in staged encounters.
APP
