KARACHI, Oct 24: Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany of the High Court of Sindh on Friday observed that it does not behove a chief minister to restrain the liberty of a person for a long time.
The judge was hearing a constitutional petition challenging the implication of one Mohammad Owais in a case registered under section 506-B, 507, 387 PPC.
When the petition came up for hearing, a provincial law officer said a summary submitted to the chief minister was yet to be seen by him (CM).
“The CM has no time to see it despite the passage of two months,” observed the bench. The law officer requested the court to adjourn the matter for two weeks so that a final order could be passed.
Khawaja Naveed Ahmed advocate, counsel for the petitioner, raised no objection to the request for adjournment by the state, but added that all the police officers including the prosecution branch had recommended withdrawal of the case against the petitioner.
The bench, after the statement by the counsel for the petitioner, put off further hearing till October 31.
According to details, the petitioner was booked by the PS Saddar on a complaint filed by one Mrs Saima Nafees who, moving an application before the Karachi police chief, had complained that she had been receiving threatening calls from an unidentified person who was apparently using fake names and was demanded Rs300,000 to spare her three children.
Khawaja Naveed Ahmed maintained that the entire incident was a joke played by some youths under the influence of movies and dramas shown on the electronic media.
He said that while the co-accused who belonged to influential families had been let off the hook by the police, the petitioner had been singled out for prosecution.
He argued the petitioner was a student of a local college, and of a tender age. He submitted that the alleged offence did not fall under the prohibitory clause.
The same bench also disposed off a constitutional petition filed by the Peoples Welfare Club, North Nazimabad, against TPO North Nazimabad Town, Sultan Ali Khawaja, DSP Asif Razzak and the SHO of the North Nazimabad PS.
Anjum Jameel, petitioner/president of the club, moved the court against the alleged harassment caused by the police. The petitioner maintained that the club, a private recreational organization, had been running since 1991, where members played indoor games.
Khawaja Naveed Ahmed advocate, appearing for the petitioner, referred to an earlier order passed by the bench dismissing the petition after the police officers had stated that no harassment was caused or would be caused to the petitioner. — APP
