The Anti-Terrorism Court has highlighted significant flaws in the investigations conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in terrorism cases across nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As a result, the court has dismissed charges against 195 accused individuals.
The Peshawar Prosecution Department released data from January 1, 2024, to May 24, 2024, indicating that 191 accused were discharged under Proforma B due to insufficient evidence. Additionally, four individuals were discharged under Section 265 D by the courts for the same reason.
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According to the report, the breakdown of dismissals due to lack of evidence is as follows:
The report further states that the absence of solid evidence against the named individuals prevented the trials from proceeding.
This isn't the first time the CTD's investigative practices have come under scrutiny. The Anti-Terrorism Court had previously warned the CTD about the poor quality of their investigations. Allegations have also been raised on the floor of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, accusing the CTD of conducting operations that resulted in the arrest and harassment of innocent people. However, the Additional Inspector General of the CTD has dismissed these allegations as fabricated and baseless.
