KARACHI: High Court expresses concern over police behaviour
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 2: A division of bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday expressed concern over “scanty regard to the orders of the court” and issued show-cause notices to the SHO of Khwaja Ajmer Nagri in an appeal filed by the state against the acquittal of former Muttahida MPAs.
The bench comprised Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Muhammed Ashraf Leghari.
Former Muttahida MPAs, Muhammed Hussain, Khalid Bin Waleed and other workers were tried and absolved of charges in cases of multiple murders and possession of illegal arms by the Anti-Terrorism Court.
When the matter came up for hearing, Additional SHO of Ajmer Nagri submitted that bailable warrants for the arrest of the accused, Shadab Ahmed and Ejaz Ahmed, could not be served as their addresses were not available.
The Assistant Advocate General submitted that the main case regarding murder of two police constables was registered by the Ajmer Nagri PS and it was the responsibility of the police station concerned to deliver notices and bailable warrants.
The bench was annoyed to note that despite issuance of notices, neither the SHO nor other officials appeared on a previous date of hearing.
Taking notice of the failure of police in serving notices on the respondents, the court directed the SHO concerned to appear before the court on Nov 14. The court also issued a show-cause notice to him to explain lapse on his part.
The bench also ordered repeating notices to the accused/respondent Ejaz as another respondent Shadab appeared before the bench voluntarily while former MPA Mohammed Hussain and Zaheeruddin Baber alias Babar alias Lahooti were produced in custody before the appellate bench.
It was the case of the prosecution that on Aug 29, 1999, accused Muhammed Hussain, accompanied by co-accused Baber Lahooti, Shadab, Ejaz, Khalid Bin Waleed, Shahbaz, Imtiaz Commando, Suleman, Zia alias T.T and Shafi attacked a police party near UP More with automatic weapons. PC Zafar Azhar and PC Intekhab sustained fatal bullet injuries.
The accused were tried in murder and other cases conjointly.
As the police failed to produce the empties and also report of ballistic expert, the ATC-I exonerated them of all charges giving them a benefit of doubt.
The state went into appeal against the impugned judgement but appeal could not proceeded due to delay in serving of notices/warrants against some of the accused.
