A judicial magistrate on Wednesday granted post-arrest bail to a man in a case pertaining to allegedly making a bomb hoax threat to the US consulate in Karachi.
Sharjeel Akbar through his lawyer moved an application before Judicial Magistrate (West) Inaamullah Phulpoto seeking post arrest bail. After hearing both defence and prosecution sides, the magistrate granted bail to the suspect against a surety of Rs30,000. “From a tentative assessment, it appears that no concrete evidence has yet been brought on record against the accused,” he observed, adding that the case called for further inquiry.
“At a tentative assessment, it appears that the entire case of the prosecution is based upon an alleged telephonic threat. However, no material has been brought on record to establish that the mobile number in question is registered in the name of the accused or was in his possession or use at the relevant time,” the magistrate noted.
“No call data record, forensic evidence, or independent corroboration has been collected or at least produced before this Court. Even the person who allegedly received the threatening call has neither been cited nor examined at this stage, rendering the version of the complainant prima facie hearsay.”
An FIR was lodged under sections 506-B and 504 of the Pakistan Penal Code read with 25D of Telegraph Act on the complaint of Inspector Ihtesham Ur Rehman, posted at the US consulate. According to the FIR, the complainant stated that on April 15, while he was present on his duty at the US consulate, the staff informed him that a threatening call had been received. He said that the caller allegedly disclosed his name as Sharjeel Akbar and threatened that a bomb had been planted near the American Consulate and that dire consequences would follow. Upon such information, the complainant along with security personnel conducted a search for explosives, but no explosive material was found, he said.
