Terrorism charges: SC's larger bench to figure out reasons behind acquittal of PML-N MNA

The Supreme Court on Thursday decided to form a larger bench to figure out the reasons behind acquittal of PML-N MNA Chaudhry Abid Raza in a terrorism-related case. While hearing a matter relating to Raza's disqualification from the National Assembly membership, Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali had taken a suo motu notice after knowing that he was acquitted of terrorism charges.
Anti-Terrorism Court had awarded death penalty to Chaudhry Abid Raza due to his involvement in murder of six people in Gujrat, however, on basis of compromise deal the deceased families had forgiven him and thus he was acquitted in the case. Scope of compromise between convict and legal heirs of the deceased does not cover compromises in the cases of Anti Terrorism Act as the apex court had ruled in Muhammad Nawaz vs State case (2014 PLD 383) that death sentence under Section 7 of Anti Terrorism Act 1997 had its own implications and was not compoundable under Section 354(5) & (7) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). A two-judge bench led by the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said that during the current month a larger bench would be formed to hear the case. Hearing of the matter was adjourned till date in office.