KARACHI, Jan 31: The government may order reappointment of a tribunal in respect of the absconding accused persons who were allegedly involved in a conspiracy to harm Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and some of his colleagues in Sept 1947.

In an informal discussion about the implication of Indian home minister, Lal Krishan Advani, in the Shikarpur Colony conspiracy case, Advocate General Sindh, Raja Qureshi observed that perhaps the objectives of justice could be achieved by constituting a tribunal in respect of the absconding accused persons.

He said that one could make a request for warrant of arrest and let the law take its own course because of the matter having acquired national and international importance.

Raja Qureshi, nevertheless, said it was up to the authorities and he was not in a position to take any decision in that regard.

On Sept 17, 1948, two of the 19 accused in the “Shikarpur Colony Conspiracy case (based on an incident of Sept 10, 1947), were sentenced to life imprisonment and 13 to 10 years R.I by Rahim Bux Munshi, Special Tribunal Judge. They were charged with a conspiring to wage war against the government of Pakistan.

The two main accused , Khanchand Gopaldas advocate and Nand Badlani, were also fined Rs50,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.

Accused Gobind Ram Paras Ram Motwani, Nanikram Gobindram Ramrakhiani, Hargobind Chandumal Gidwani, Arjan Jethanand Bhojwani, Santu Chandumal Gidwani, Gobind Lalshing Ajwani, Vishnu Jaithanand Jagesia, Nariman Dialmal Merchandani, Lekharam Bhagwandas Vazirani, Tikamdas Jairamdas Vazirani, Daulat Naraindas Sajnani, Narain Gangaram and Ram Boolchand Hingorani were all sentenced under five different sections to 10 years RI and a fine of Rs1,000 each (in default one year RI).

Four accused were acquitted of the charge. They were Dr Tilumal Hirwani, Mayaram Lachiram, Lachman Motanmal Jagesia and Dhanram Jagan Nath.

Advocate Khanchand Gopaldas, who was also president of the Rashtrya Sevak Sangh, was represented in the case of his detention by Mr A.K.Brohi in the Chief Court of Sind.

According to file reports, forty men were challaned in the court of the Karachi Additional District Magistrate in that case in Sept 1947. Of these 20 accused were at large and one released on bail on health grounds absconded.

Mr L.K.Advani is presumed to be among the absconders whose case remained dormant.Unconfirmed reports said that the government might include his name in the list of men wanted from India.

According to the facts of the case, a bomb explosion took place in the house of R.B.Tota Ram on Sept 10, 1947 at 3 pm. Some people were reported to be preparing bombs in a room on the first floor of the house. One person died and Nand Badlani was arrested on the spot. It was the prosecution’s case that the gang was trained in war tactics. Gopaldas was accused of controlling the activities of the gang.