ATC acquits Lyari gangster due to lack of evidence in explosives case

Despite the acquittal, Nisar remains incarcerated as he faces trial in over 40 other cases

KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Karachi has issued verdict of acquittal for a suspected Lyari gangster, citing “lack of evidence” in a case concerning possession of explosives, illegal weaponry, and an assault on law enforcement personnel during a raid.

According to a news report by Dawn, the accused, identified as Nisar Ahmed alias Mullah Nisar, purportedly linked with the outlawed Peoples Amn Committee and Lyari’s prominent figure Uzair Baloch, stood accused of orchestrating an attack on law enforcement officials during a raid in a Lyari neighbourhood back in January 2014.

Traffic police officer tragically killed in crossfire amid alleged enmity

Following a thorough trial encompassing witness testimonies and concluding arguments from both prosecution and defence, the ATC judge absolved the accused due to insufficient evidence. However, despite the acquittal, Nisar remains incarcerated as he faces trial in over 40 other cases, having been cleared of charges in seven cases thus far.

According to the prosecution’s narrative, acting upon intelligence, a joint operation involving Rangers and police was conducted near Bakra Piri in Lyari on January 24, 2014. During the operation, the accused and his associates allegedly engaged in gunfire with law enforcement personnel, resulting in the death of a suspect named Aslam. Nisar and several others reportedly fled the scene.

The incident led to the filing of a case at Kalakot police station, citing various provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, and Anti-Terrorism Act, after explosives and illicit weapons were purportedly recovered from the deceased suspect.

Besham Attack: Chinese engineers’ vehicle was not bomb-proof, report reveals

Prosecutors asserted that the accused played a pivotal role in Lyari’s gang conflicts, citing his arrest in December 2022 during a joint operation by Rangers and police. They alleged Nisar’s involvement in numerous cases ranging from targeted killings to terrorism and extortion.

In defence, counsel Abid Zaman contended that the acquittal stemmed from the prosecution’s inability to substantiate the charges beyond reasonable doubt in the present case.