An anti-terrorism court in Karachi rejected on Wednesday an application from an underage driver and other accused individuals connected to a car accident that claimed the lives of six family members in the Defence area.

The court delivered its ruling during proceedings on Wednesday, having reserved the decision since January 28 after hearing arguments from all parties involved.

The trial has been adjourned until February 28, with prosecution witnesses summoned to testify at the next hearing. ATC Judge Manzar Ali Gill presided over the session, where the suspect, driver Afnan and his father, Shafqat Awan, were present.

In their application, the defendants contended that the police had “improperly applied” sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 (ATA) to the case, asserting that the circumstances “did not warrant such charges.”

They sought the removal of such sections and requested that the case be transferred to a sessions court for further proceedings.

The case was registered by the Defence C Police following a complaint from Rafaqat Ali, who lost his wife, Rukhsana Bibi (45); son, Husnain (25); daughter-in-law, Ayesha (23); son-in-law, Sajjad (30); four-month-old grandson, Huzaifa; and granddaughter, Anaya (4) in the incident.

Alongside Afnan, the other accused include his father, Shafqat Awan, and friends Ali Abdullah, Muhammad Saad, and Muhammad Ibrahim.

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They face multiple charges as outlined in the police report, which alleged that the suspect and his friends “initially harassed female passengers before colliding with their vehicle.”

Shafqat, a real estate dealer, is accused of permitting his underage son to drive illegally.

The Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 sees the prevention of terrorism, sectarian violence and the speedy trial of heinous offences.