ATC orders medical board to determine suspect’s mental health

CHITRAL / SWAT: A day after a charged mob beat up a man accused of blasphemy in Chitral, an anti-terrorism Court ordered the formation of a medical board to examine the mental condition of the accused and present areport within two days.

The accused was produced before a judicial magistrate where he rejected all charges levelled against him. The man was brutally beaten inside a mosque by a mob of angry worshippers who accused him of committing blasphemy following Friday prayers in Chitral.

Judicial Magistrate Ishaq Afridi turned down police request for the physical remand of the accused. Following a high-level meeting of district administration and political and religious leaders, an FIR was registered against the accused on Saturday at the town police station.

DPO Ali Akbar directed the police and an FIR was registered against the accused, who has been charged with section 295c, 295a (blasphemy law) and 6/7ATA (act of terrorism). The district administration assured locals that no one would be allowed to disrespect Islam and legal action will be taken against those who have committed blasphemy.

Meanwhile, all educational institutes, banks and government offices remained closed and courts were also partially closed. Heavy contingents were placed around the offices of DC, DPO and other government offices in the main Chitral Town.

Sporadic protests were held in Mastoj, Drosh and Auyn where DC and Col Nazimuddin of Chitral Scouts dispersed the crowd after talks. While police and Chitral scouts baton charged protestors and used rubber bullets and tear gas on the protest in main Chitral. The angry protestors demanded DC and security forces to hang the accused in the blasphemy case.

While talking to the media, Col Nazimuddin said that the situation was a conspiracy to disturb the law and order situation of the city. MPA Saleem Khan asked the ulemas of the district to play a mediating role and neutralise the volatile situation and urged the resident to remain calm and not take law into their own hands.

Source: The Express Tribune