LAHORE: Allowing an appeal by the Punjab prosecution department, a Lahore High Court (LHC) division bench on Tuesday restored provisions of anti-terrorism law, earlier revoked from cases registered against the suspects of Kasur child-abuse scandal.An anti-terrorism court holding trial of the suspects had admitted their petitions and cancelled the sections of Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) from the first information report referring the trial to the court of ordinary jurisdiction. The prosecution department challenged the decision before the high court.

Deputy Prosecutor GeneralKhurram Khan told the two-judge bench that the incidents of childabuse not only tarnished the image of Pakistan in the world but also ruined the lives of the victims and their families. He said the incidentshad alsocaused agreatsense of fear in the district.

The prosecutor argued that the suspects were also charged for `kidnapping for ransom` and theoffense attracted provisions of antiterrorism law. He asked the bench to set aside the impugned decision of the trial court and reinstate the deleted sections of the ATA in the cases. The defence counsel opposed the appeal.

Headed by Justice Abdul Sami Khan, the bench allowed the prosecution`s appeal and set aside the impugned verdict.