IO censured by court for not arresting May 12 suspects.

KARACHI -- An antiterrorism court on Friday came down hard on an investigating officer for failing to arrest four suspects absconding in a case pertaining to violent riots and terrorism on May 12, 2007.

Police booked suspects Abdul Bari Kakar, Habibullah, Mushtaq and Wakeel Khan among 400 to 500 unidentified activists, said to be associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party and Jamaat-i-Islami, for their alleged involvement in violent riots and terrorist acts during the May 12 chaos in 2007.

On Friday, the matter was fixed before the ATC-II judge for filing of report regarding execution of non-bailable warrants issued by the court for arrest of the absconding suspects in the present case.

However, the IO informed the judge that he was still tracing the absconding suspects and requested for more time to do so.

The judge severely censured the IO and observed that the suspects were not arrested despite the fact that time had been granted on several occasions.

The judge directed the IO to ensure arrest of the suspects and produce them before the court on next date and fixed the matter on Jan 1.

In September, the IO filed a charge-sheet nominating Abdul Bari...