ISLAMABAD: Islamabad court has directed an US citizen of Pakistani origin to join the proceedings initiated against him in aerial firing and possession of illegal weapon case.
The direction came on application of US citizen Ahmed Ali who challenged the judicial magistrate order with regard to declaration of him as an absconder in the case registered at industrial area police station Islamabad.
Ahmed Ali was booked by the police among others in a case pertained to aerial firing and possession of illegal weapons in the federal capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. He reached Pakistan to pursue his case before the court of the law.
According to the investigating officer of the case, the applicant Ahmed Ali is an auxiliary captain in New York Police Department and an imam of a Masjid in New York.
He was declared as absconder by the judicial magistrate court due to non-appearance before the court despite he was on bail. Police alleged that Ahmed Ali was arrested on charges of aerial firing and possession of illegal weapons. He again came to Pakistan after obtaining protective pre-arrest bail from the court of the law.
According to the police, Ahmed Ali along with three others Mohammad Mehmood Sheikh, Khawar Mushtaq and Abdul Rauf were arrested by the police on August 20, 2022 at Islamabad I 9 sector on charges of aerial firing and possession of illegal weapons.
Police said that two pistols, two magazines and 30 rounds were found from the possession of Ahmed who produced arms license to the police however same license number was printed on both pistols and he was charged with aerial firing and possession of illegal weapons.
According to the police, Ahmed Ali obtained post arrest bail from the court of law but avoided the court proceedings and left the country without intimating the court. The judicial magistrate court declared him absconder due to non-appearance on April 13 and issued his arrest warrants.
Sources said that Ahmed Ali reached Pakistan on April 17 after obtaining protective pre-arrest bail to pursue his case before the court as during trial he along with others accused become absconders and they were declared proclaimed offender by the Magistrate court.
Ahmed Ali impugned the arrest warrants before the sessions court. Sessions court observed that record of the case revealed that applicant did not appear before the trial court on various hearings and resultantly they were declared proclaimed offenders.
The court observed that although the court is not happy with the conduct of the applicant, who remained absent from the trial court and the case was lingering on due to the lapse on part of the applicant.
The court observed that now the applicant and others wanted to appear before the trial court therefore in the interest of justice and fair play their application against the impugned warrants is granted and arrest warrants are set aside. The court directed the applicant to appear before the Magistrate court and join the proceedings.
The court however keeping in view of previous conduct of the applicants warned them to be careful in future and appear before the court in each and every date of hearing.
