Manawan Police Training School attack: LHC releases accused after commuting his sentence

The Lahore High Court on Monday released a Manawan Police Training School attack suspect, Hijratullah, after commuting his sentence. Representing the appellant, Ali Zia Bajwa Advocate argued that the anti-terrorism court had no jurisdiction to hold trial of Hijratullah facing case under the Explosive Act.
He said the trial court was not empowered to hear cases of Explosives Act till the law was amended in 2012. The counsel prayed to the court to set aside the sentence of Hijratullah and order his acquittal.
A prosecutor opposing the appeal argued that Hijratullah attacked the police training school along with other terrorists on March 30, 2009. At least 22 police personnel were killed and 100 others injured in the attack, he added.
The bench, however, treating the eight years spent by the appellant as undergone imprisonment commuted his sentence and issued his release order.