An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has acquitted for lack of evidence 115 suspects accused of torching more than 100 houses of Christians at Joseph Colony in the city following an alleged blasphemy incident in 2013.
Judge Chaudhry Muhammad Azam on Saturday accepted the arguments of defence and ordered acquittal of the suspects, observing that evidence presented by prosecution against the suspects was “insufficient” to convict them.
On March 8, 2013, thousands of protesters armed with sticks, clubs and stones ransacked Joseph Colony and set over 125 residential properties, shops as well as some motorcycles and rickshaws and a church on fire after a word was spread in the locality that a Christan had committed blasphemy.
A clash between police and the arsonists had also left a number of people injured but no casualty was reported.
During yesterday’s hearing, defence lawyer Ghulam Murtaza argued that the prosecution had failed to provide a “single evidence” to establish the charges against his clients.
He said the prosecution had lingered the case for more than three years but could not come up with any solid evidence against the suspects.
He requested the court to acquit the suspects because of want for proof.
A prosecution lawyer argued the evidence provided by the prosecution team is enough to convict the suspects.