In Pakistan today these guys stood about as much chance of being convicted as Osama bin Laden did of being turned in by Pakistani government officials. “Pakistan: Court acquits 4 of helping NYC bomber,” by Zarar Khan for the Associated Press, June 2 (thanks to all who sent this in):
ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani anti-terrorism court freed on Saturday four men accused of involvement in the 2010 Times Square bomb plot, said a lawyer and family members of the men.
The men were arrested in the wake of the May 2010 incident during which Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad drove an SUV packed with a bomb into Times Square. The bomb produced smoke but no explosion.
Lawyer Malik Imran Safdar said Saturday that the prosecution failed to prove its case against his clients. The men were released Saturday evening after the court in Rawalpindi, next to the capital of Islamabad, acquitted them.
The father of one of the men, Humbal Akhtar, said he was ecstatic at his son’s release.
“I have suffered a lot during these two tough years,” said Muhammed Akhtar. “Finally I got justice.”
In addition to Akhtar, the court released Muhammad Shoaib Mughal, Muhammad Shahid Husain, and Faisal Abbasi. The men were picked up by Pakistani security officials in the wake of the 2010 incident, and few details of their case have emerged over the two years of their detention.
They were tried by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court, which are generally off limits to the press or other outsiders.
Terrorism cases in Pakistan rarely result in convictions or prison sentences. Police often lack basic investigative skills, prosecutors lack training in terror cases and judges and witnesses are often subject to intimidation….
Two other men arrested by Pakistan in the wake of the Times Square incident were previously released….