PESHAWAR: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has recalled the pre-arrest bail of Zubair, accused of murdering the World Health Organisation (WHO) employee and a polio worker, Wajid Ali, in Mohmand district in 2019.
The deceased had tried to convince the accused to vaccinate his children against the poliovirus but when he refused, Ali submitted a report the government authorities. Advocate Nouman Muhib Kakakhel, who represented the father of deceased, Malik Bakht Munir, argued that the report has enraged Zubair and thus he targeted Wajid Ali.
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The lawyer argued that the accused is directly charged for the murder of the polio worker. “The motive was on record that the accused refused to vaccinate his children and the deceased thereafter reported the case to government authorities,” the lawyer argued. The lawyer added that the call records are evident that Zubair is directly involved in the murder of polio-worker. Another accused, identified as Hamza, is also charged in the FIR for helping the accused in the crime.
The lawyer argued that the accused was absconder since 2019 after committing the offence and came before the court of law after lapse of two years. The lawyer added that under the law, the absconder loses some rights because of his conduct. “The accused has damaged Pakistan’s image for resisting polio drops and killing a WHO employee who worked day and night for the eradication of polio-virus from Pakistan.”
The lawyer further said that the target killing has created a sense of fear in the area, especially among the polio workers. The Anti-Terrorism Court, Peshawar, after hearing arguments recalled the bail granted to accused and ordered his arrest from the court room premises.
The deceased Wajid Ali has worked tirelessly to clear his area, Mohmand district, from the poliovirus and create awareness among the local population. He was killed in April 2019; however, his family is still struggling to get justice.