Pak ATC transfers Shahzain Bugti’s case to sessions court

QUETTA - An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has ordered that the case registered against Jamhoori Watan Party (Balochistan) chief Shahzain Bugti be transferred to a sessions court.

“The case against Shahzain Bugti for allegedly carrying illegal arms and ammunition does not come under terrorism or jurisdiction of the ATC and, therefore, it is transferred to the sessions court,” the Dawn quoted Judge Ismail Baloch, as saying in an order issued during the hearing of a bail application filed by Shahzain and his 26 security guards.

On December 22, paramilitary troops had arrested Shahzain and his 26 security guards after allegedly finding a huge cache of arms and ammunition in vehicles of his convoy coming from the border town of Chaman.

Talking to reporters after the hearing, Shahzain’s lawyer Wishisher Nath Kohli said that the transfer of the case to a sessions court was a victory of justice, adding that Shahzain had expressed his confidence in the anti-terrorism court.

Advocate Kohli also said that he would file a bail application in the sessions court after receiving the detailed judgment.

The family of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti had the history of sacrifices for democracy, and the JWP would continue its struggle for people’s rights, he added. Shahzain is the grandson of late Nawab Akbar Bugti. (ANI)