LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday acquitted a convict who was given a one-year sentence for raising funds for the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Abdul Aziz and Justice Amjad Rafique issued an acquittal order on the appeal of the convict Dawar Khan.

The appellant through his counsel contended that Counter Terrorism Department had arrested him on April 2, but the prosecution could not produce a single piece of evidence to establish his affiliation with the TTP. He pointed out that the trial court had exonerated the accused from the charges of affiliation with TTP but sentenced him to one year on an unconfirmed charge of fundraising for the outlawed organisation.

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The counsel argued that the CTD recovered a receipt book from the accused regarding fundraising but did not interrogate a single person who provided the alleged funds. He further alleged that the CTD did not present the joint investigation team report during the trial.

“It is unjust to punish an innocent person only on the basis of an uncertified copy of a receipt book,” said the lawyer, adding that the amount written on the receipt book did not correspond to the currency notes recovered.

He said the failure on part of the prosecution to get the forensic report of the entire text of the receipt book also showed malice intent of the CTD.

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The prosecution argued that the convict’s signature corresponded with the signature mentioned on the receipt book. However, the appellant’s counsel said no accused could be punished merely based on corresponding signatures.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered the acquittal of Dawar Khan.