A Pakistani court has acquitted a man accused of plotting a deadly suicide attack on an ISI office in 2009 for lack of evidence against him.
The anti-terrorism court yesterday freed alleged terrorist Asif Mahmood, who was charged with involvement in the attack on the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency's headquarters in Punjab province.
At least 30 people, including four senior ISI officers and 15 policemen, were killed in the deadliest ever attack on the powerful intelligence agency.
Law enforcement agencies arrested Mahmood a couple of years ago for alleged involvement in the attack.
The mastermind of the attack - Umer Kundi alias Dr Maaz - was killed in a gun battle with police three years ago in Faisalabad district of Punjab, 150 km from Lahore.
Kundi was also involved in an attack on an ISI building in Faisalabad.
Sources in Punjab Police told PTI that Mahmood was an engineering graduate and was involved in preparing explosive-laden vehicles.
"During police interrogation, Mahmood had confessed to his involvement in attacks on the ISI offices in Lahore and Faisalabad," a source said.
Mahmood allegedly received training in the lawless Waziristan tribal region as an active member of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
However, the prosecution failed to present any incriminating evidence against Mahmood in the court, which ordered his acquittal.
Law enforcement agencies often rue the acquittal of alleged terrorists because of want of evidence. "The law enforcement agencies face difficulties in getting witnesses and the terrorists benefit in court," a senior police official told PTI.
