950816

Absconder

appears in LHC

and then escapes

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Panic gripped the Lahore High Court premises when a proclaimed absconder Tariq Manj, the brother-in-law of the detained MNA of the PPP Munawwar Manj, escaped with the help of his supporters in the presence of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) from the LHC premises.

Tariq who had come to witness the proceedings of bail application of his brother-in-law before a division bench of the LHC comprising Mr. Justice Munir A. Sheikh and Mr. Justice Tasadduq Hussain Gilani, made good his escape with the connivance of his companions who had also come to witness the hearing of the bail application. The ANTF later arrested one person who is claimed to be accomplice of Tariq.

A case of drug trafficking had been registered against the PPP MNA Munawwar Manj when his driver and official body-guard were carrying 40 kilograms of heroin from their native village to Sheikhupura.

Talking to the journalists commander of ANTF said that they had the powers to fire at the escaping man but refrained to do so because of sanctity of the court. He said that it was sheer goondaism and they would not let it in future.