State Lawyers have argued that Adhaalath Party Chief Sheikh Imran Abdullah has to take all the responsibility for the actions of the May Day protests.
The state lawyers made the statement speaking in the hearing of the case held today.
The state had submitted two videos to Court as evidence. One of the videos show one of the pickups used in the protest moving against the security forces near MMA and the other video shows the protesters attacking a police officer.
State lawyer said that the actions of the protesters had escalated to violence after Sheikh Imran had delivered an address to the protesters which had inflamed the passions of the crowd.
Sheikh Imran’s lawyer, Husnu Suood, said that in the two videos, Imran is not seen and that Imran had not spoken to the pickup drivers. He added that it cannot be determined if the video showing the attack on the police officer had occurred on the same day. Additionally, Husnu Suood said that it also cannot be determined if the protesters had attacked the Police officer.
State lawyers responded that Sheikh Imran had not prevented the actions, especially given his senior role in the protests. As such, the state lawyers said that Sheikh Imran was liable for all the actions.
The state lawyers added that they will hand over the video footage for detailed analysis. The lawyers further said that Sheikh Imran had signed a waiver issued by the Police, agreeing to be liable for all incidents that will occur in the protest.
In response, Adhaalath Party Deputy Leader Ali Zahir said that protest organizers cannot be held responsible for any disturbances caused by intruders into the protest. He added that this was stated in the waiver signed between the Police and protest organizers.
The presiding judge had announced that in the next hearing on Monday statements will be taken from secret witnesses.
Imran has to take responsibility for May Day: state lawyers
