LAHORE: An anti-terrorism court on Friday issued notices to police on bail petitions of the four suspects involved in lynching of a Christian couple of Kot Radha Kishan.

The court directed the investigating officer to appear on Dec 5 along with complete record of the case.

Suspects Haris Bashir, Waqas Bashir, Arsalan and Attique, in their petitions, denied their involvement in the incident.

They said the police arrested them only to sustain the pressure of the government and failed to establish even their presence on the crime scene. They requested the court to release them on bail.

Victims Shahzad Masih and his wife, Shama, were bonded labour at the brick kiln of Yousaf. They were killed by a mob on charges of blasphemy.

DISMISSED: The Lahore High Court on Friday dismisse d two petitions against new constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and also fined a petitioner for concealing facts from the court.

Tariq Farid and Haseebullah filed thepetitions questioning different sections of the PCB constitution. They said the new law empowered the board governing body to do delimitation of constituencies for elections and clipped powers of the election commissioner. They alleged the governing body usually misused the powers.

PCB legal adviser Taffazul Haider Rizvi told the court a notification about the PCB constitution had been considered by the Supreme Court. He said the apex court on July 21, 2014, had directed the federal government for implementing the notification.

He pointed out that the Islamabad High Court had imposed a fine of Rs4 million on four petitioners who had challenged the PCB constitution by concealing the facts.

At this, Farid`s counsel sought court`s permission to withdraw the petition whereas Haseeb`s counsel asked for a decision on merit.

Justice Shahzada Mazhar dismissed both petitions and imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on Tariq Farid to be paid to the board. Staff Reporter